title: Maternal obesity is associated with the formation of small dense LDL and hypoadiponectinemia in the third trimester.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal obesity is associated with high plasma triglyceride, poor vascular function, and an increased risk for pregnancy complications. In normal-weight pregnant women, higher triglyceride is associated with increased small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In obese pregnancy, increased plasma triglyceride concentrations result in triglyceride enrichment of very low-density lipoprotein-1 particles and formation of small dense LDL via lipoprotein lipase.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (n = 55) of body mass index of 18-46 kg/m(2) were sampled longitudinally at 12, 26, and 35 weeks' gestation and 4 months postnatally.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were recruited at hospital antenatal appointments, and study visits were in a clinical research suite.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma concentrations of lipids, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, lipoprotein lipase mass, estradiol, steroid hormone binding globulin, insulin, glucose, leptin, and adiponectin were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obese women commenced pregnancy with higher plasma triglyceride, reached the same maximum, and then returned to higher postnatal levels than normal-weight women. Estradiol response to pregnancy (trimester 1-3 incremental area under the curve) was positively associated with plasma triglyceride response (r(2) adjusted 25%, P < .001). In the third trimester, the proportion of small, dense LDL was 2-fold higher in obese women than normal-weight women [mean (SD) 40.7 (18.8) vs 21.9 (10.9)%, P = .014], and 35% of obese, 14% of overweight, and none of the normal-weight women displayed an atherogenic LDL subfraction phenotype. The small, dense LDL mass response to pregnancy was inversely associated with adiponectin response (17%, P = .013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal obesity is associated with an atherogenic LDL subfraction phenotype and may provide a mechanistic link to poor vascular function and adverse pregnancy outcome.
authors: Metabolic Research Centre, School of Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2500, Australia.
authors: Barbara J
authors: BJ
authors: Meyer
authors: Frances M
authors: FM
authors: Stewart
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Brown
authors: Josephine
authors: J
authors: Cooney
authors: Solveig
authors: S
authors: Nilsson
authors: Gunilla
authors: G
authors: Olivecrona
authors: Jane E
authors: JE
authors: Ramsay
authors: Bruce A
authors: BA
authors: Griffin
authors: Muriel J
authors: MJ
authors: Caslake
authors: Dilys J
authors: DJ
authors: Freeman
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D000328:Adult; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides