title: Does physical activity during pregnancy adversely influence markers of the metabolic syndrome in adult offspring? A prospective study over two decades.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is unknown whether physical activity during pregnancy (PA) has long-term impact on the metabolic profile of the offspring. We investigated associations of PA with markers of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in 20y old offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study where 965 pregnant women during 1988-1989 had four dimensions of PA assessed by questionnaires in gestation week 30: PA at work; leisure time PA, daily amount of walking-biking and sport participation. The following MS markers were assessed in the offspring (n=439): body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance as well as fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol), insulin and leptin levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Walking-biking PA in pregnancy is associated with unchanged or subtle, adverse changes of distinct MS markers among offspring including lower levels of HDL cholesterol (ratio 0.95 (95% CI 0.92 to 0.98) per 1 h increment in walking-biking), a higher diastolic blood pressure (difference 1.12 (95% CI 0.03 to 2.20) mm Hg/1 h increment) and a higher BMI (ratio 1.03 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.05) per 1 h increment). In separate analyses in males, these associations persisted and additional adverse associations were found for triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, waist circumference and leptin. No associations were detected with other measures of PA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study did not substantiate any protective effects of PA in pregnancy. In contrast, data suggested that high amounts of daily walking-biking in pregnancy may have adverse effects on levels of HDL cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure and BMI in young adult offspring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology Research, Centre for Fetal Programming, Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark. ind@ssi.dk
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Danielsen
authors.forename: Charlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Granström
authors.forename: Dorte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rytter
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hammer Bech
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brink Henriksen
authors.forename: Allan Arthur
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vaag
authors.forename: Sjurdur Frodi
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Olsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D032721:Adult Children; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D009043:Motor Activity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; FETAL; PHYSICAL ACTIVITY; PREGNANCY