The relationship of maternal glycemia to childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction‡

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association of maternal glycemia with childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Study design: Secondary analysis of follow-up data 5–10 years after a mild gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) treatment trial. The relationship between maternal oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) at 24–31-week gestation and body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, insulin, and anthropometric measurements (sum of skinfolds, subscapular/triceps ratio, and waist circumference) in the offspring of untreated mild GDM and non-GDM (abnormal 50-g screen/normal OGTT) women was assessed. Multivariable regression modeling controlling for maternal and neonatal characteristics was employed. Results: A cohort of 236 untreated mild GDM and 480 non-GDM offspring were analyzed. In the combined cohort, significant correlations existed between fasting, 1, 2, and 3 h maternal glucose and subscapular/triceps ratio (all p