https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34008183/NAFLD

Hepatology. 2021 May 18.
doi: 10.1002/hep.31910. Online ahead of print.
Maternal early-pregnancy glucose concentrations and liver fat among school age children
Madelon L Geurtsen 1 2, Rama J Wahab 1 2, Janine F Felix 1 2, Romy Gaillard 1 2, Vincent W V Jaddoe 1 2

Abstract

Background and aims: Gestational diabetes seems to be associated with offspring non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We hypothesized that maternal glucose concentrations across the full range may have persistent effects on offspring liver fat accumulation.

Approach and results: In a multi-ethnic population-based prospective cohort study among 2,168 women and their offspring, maternal early-pregnancy glucose concentrations were measured at a median of 13.1 weeks' gestation (95% range 9.6-17.2 weeks). Liver fat fraction was measured at 10 years by magnetic resonance imaging. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was defined as liver fat fraction ≥5.0%. We performed analyses among all mothers with different ethnic backgrounds and those of European ancestry only. The multi-ethnic group had a median maternal early-pregnancy glucose concentration of 4.3 mmol/l (IQR 3.9-4.9) and a 2.8% (n = 60) prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The models adjusted for child age and sex only showed that in the multi-ethnic group higher maternal early-pregnancy glucose concentrations were associated with higher liver fat accumulation and higher odds of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but these associations attenuated into non-significance after adjustment for potential confounders. Among mothers of European ancestry only, maternal early-pregnancy glucose concentrations were associated with increased odds of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (OR 1.95 (95% CI: 1.32; 2.88 after adjustment for confounders) per 1 mmol/l increase in maternal early-pregnancy glucose concentration). These associations were not explained by maternal pre-pregnancy and childhood BMI, visceral fat and metabolic markers.

Conclusions: In this study, maternal early-pregnancy glucose concentrations were only among mothers of European ancestry associated with offspring non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The associations of higher maternal early-pregnancy glucose concentrations with offspring non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may differ between ethnic groups.