The effects of inositol metabolism in pregnant women on offspring in the north and south of China

Abstract

Source of support: This study was supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China (81600984 to XW, 81571443 to JW, 81801451 to JG, 81700777 to ZG), Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7172038 to JW and 7174285 to JG), the National Key Basic Research Program (2018YFC1002500) and Research Foundation of Capital Institute of Pediatrics (FX-2018-05) Background: Inositol is an essential nutrient for cell growth, survival and embryonic development. Myo-inositol is the predominant form in natural. To investigate the correlation between inositol metabolism and embryonic development, we assessed the metabolic characteristics of myo-inositol, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) of pregnant women in the North China (Yangquan and Weihai) and South China (Nanchang and Haikou) China. Material/Methods: All data were collected by face-to-face interview during pregnant women health visits using a questionnaire. Plasma levels of myo-inositol, PI(4,5)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3 from 89 randomly collected pregnant women were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: A total of 400 pregnant women were included in this survey. The plasma levels of myo-inositol and PI(4,5)P2 in the North China group of pregnant women were significantly higher than that in the South China group (P<0.01). The birth weight of fetuses in the North China group was heavier than that in the South China group (P<0.01). The birth length of fetuses in Yangquan was the longest among the 4 cities (P<0.01). The incidence rate of birth defects was 3.05% in the North China group, and 0.0% in the South China group. In bivariate linear correlation analysis, the body weight correlated with myo-inositol (r=0.5044, P<0.0001), PI(4,5)P2 (r=0.5950, P<0.0001) and PI(3,4,5)P3 (r=0.4710, P<0.0001), the body length was correlated with PI(4,5)P2 (r=0.3114, P=0.0035) and PI(3,4,5)P3 (r=0.2638, P<0.0130). Conclusions: The plasma levels of myo-inositol and PI(4,5)P2 in pregnant women had significant difference between the North and the South of China, which might be correlated with fetal development and birth defects.