Changes in the biochemical and immunological components of serum and colostrum of overweight and obese mothers.
BACKGROUND
Obesity in pregnancy is associated with systemic inflammation, immunological changes and adverse maternal-fetal outcomes. Information on the association between maternal obesity and breast milk composition is scarce. This study describes changes and relationships between biochemical and immunological parameters of colostrum and serum of overweight and obese women.


METHODS
Colostrum and blood samples were collected from 25 normal weight, 24 overweight and 19 obese women for determination of glucose, total protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, immunoglobulins, complement proteins (C3 and C4), fat and calorie content and C-reactive protein (CRP).


RESULTS
Glucose was higher in colostrum of obese women (p = .002). In normal weight and obese women, total protein content was higher in colostrum than in serum (p = .001). Serum triglycerides (p = .008) and cholesterol (p = .010) concentrations were significantly higher in overweight and obese women than in their normal weight counterparts, but in colostrum their concentrations were similar across the three groups. Secretory IgA (sIgA) in colostrum and IgA in serum concentrations were significantly higher (p = .001) in overweight and obese mothers, whereas IgG and IgM concentrations did not vary among the groups (p = .825). Serum C3 (p = .001) and C4 (p = .040) concentrations were higher in obese women. No differences in colostrum complement proteins were detected among the groups. Calorie content (p = .003) and fat (p = .005) concentrations in colostrum and serum CRP (p = .002) were higher in obese women.


CONCLUSIONS
The results corroborate the hypothesis that colostrum of overweight and obese women undergoes biochemical and immunological changes that affect its composition, namely increasing glucose concentrations, calorie content, fat and sIgA concentrations.
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. mahmi@usp.br.
Mahmi
M
Fujimori
Institute of Biological and Health Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil. elfranca@ufmt.br.
Eduardo L
EL
França
Laboratory of Scientific Writing, Department of Morphology and Physiology, School of Medicine of ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil. vanessa_fiorin@hotmail.com.
Vanessa
V
Fiorin
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. tassi.morais@hotmail.com.|Institute of Biological and Health Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil. tassi.morais@hotmail.com.
Tassiane C
TC
Morais
Institute of Biological and Health Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil. adenildachf@gmail.com.
Adenilda C
AC
Honorio-França
Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. luizcarlos@usp.br.
Luiz C
LC
de Abreu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003126:Colostrum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005223:Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050177:Overweight / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D005223:Fats; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011506:Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D005947:Glucose