The Association Between Gestational Cortisol And Maternal Metabolic Health

Title : The Association between Gestational Cortisol and Maternal Metabolic HealthBackground: Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Excess cortisol is associated with poor metabolic health, including insulin resistance and abdominal adiposity. Maternal cortisol levels increase three-fold to support fetal growth and development, however excessive cortisol production is linked with adverse offspring outcomes. OBJECTIVES: This study tests the associations between cortisol, abdominal fat, and insulin resistance in pregnancy. METHODS: Twenty-three participants (BMI = 30.85 ± 7.4, age = 27.2 ± 5.1) visited the KSU Exercise Science Physiology laboratory in early pregnancy (V1, 12-15 weeks) and late pregnancy (V2, 24-28 weeks). Blood samples were collected during each trimester, and body-fat percentage was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. HOMA-IR was used for insulin resistance. Intra-abdominal-adipose-tissue (IAAT) and subcutaneous1 (SAT1) thicknesses were collected by ultrasound 1 cm above the umbilicus. Preperitoneal-adipose (PPAT) and subcutaneous2 (SAT2) were collected immediately below the xiphoid process. Correlations were used to determine differences in SPSS, and body fat was controlled for. RESULTS: HOMA-IR in early pregnancy is strongly and positively associated with SAT1 and SAT2 in visit one (p < 0.05). Cortisol on visit three is strongly and negatively associated with HOMA in early pregnancy (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As we expected, HOMA-IR and SAT1 and SAT2 were strongly and positively associated; contradistinctly, late pregnancy cortisol was negatively associated with early pregnancy HOMA-IR. Supported by: Funding by NIH/NICHD 1R15HD102957 (PI: KH Ingram)