Background: In nonpregnant adults, increased ectopic lipid stores [intrahepatic (IHL), intramyocellular (IMCL)] are associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. While the amount of weight gained during pregnancy is significantly associated with the amount of weight retained after delivery, it is unclear whether weight gain during pregnancy is correlated with increased IHL or IMCL stores; thus, predisposing women with postpartum weight retention to increased risk of diabetes and NAFLD.
Methods: We evaluated 36 women with an enrollment BMI between 18.5 and 38 kg/m2 at a mean (min-max) of 15.6 weeks (12.9-17.3) gestation and again at 34.2 (32.1-37.7) weeks gestation. Women with pregestational diabetes and multifetal pregnancies were excluded. Participants underwent 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess IHL and IMCL content, and air displacement plethysmography to assess body weight, percent (%) body fat, fat mass, and lean mass.
Results: The participants were primarily white (89%) with mean age of 30.4 years. Table shows mean, standard deviation (SD), and Pearson’s correlation coefficients for all measures.
Conclusion: Gestational weight gain tracks closely with increase in fat mass during pregnancy, but is not significantly correlated with change in IHL or IMCL stores.
able. Means, standard deviations, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients for weight and total and ectopic fat measures at early pregnancy and from early to late pregnancy.
| Measure | Early pregnancy Mean (SD) | Mean change (SD) from early to late pregnancy | Correlation of change with weight change |
| Weight (kg) | 72.2 (10.3) | 10.4 (3.2) | -- |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 25.2 (3.4) | 3.6 (1.1) | -- |
| Body fat (%) | 33.6 (6.5) | -0.6 (3.0) | .38* |
| Fat mass (kg) | 24.8 (7.6) | 3.1 (3.1) | .70* |
| Lean mass (kg) | 47.5 (5.1) | 7.4 (2.4) | .40* |
| IHL (% water peak) | 0.5 (0.2) | 0.1 (0.2) | -.12 |
| IMCL (% water peak) | 0.9 (0.4) | 0.2 (0.5) | -.25 |
| *p<.05 |
| Measure | Early pregnancy Mean (SD) | Mean change (SD) from early to late pregnancy | Correlation of change with weight change |
| Weight (kg) | 72.2 (10.3) | 10.4 (3.2) | -- |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 25.2 (3.4) | 3.6 (1.1) | -- |
| Body fat (%) | 33.6 (6.5) | -0.6 (3.0) | .38* |
| Fat mass (kg) | 24.8 (7.6) | 3.1 (3.1) | .70* |
| Lean mass (kg) | 47.5 (5.1) | 7.4 (2.4) | .40* |
| IHL (% water peak) | 0.5 (0.2) | 0.1 (0.2) | -.12 |
| IMCL (% water peak) | 0.9 (0.4) | 0.2 (0.5) | -.25 |
| *p<.05 |
K. Vesco: None. M.C. Leo: None. M. Francisco: None. E. Baetscher: None. W. Rooney: None. N.E. Marshall: None. J.Q. Purnell: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc..
