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Programming of cardiometabolic health: the role of maternal and fetal hyperinsulinaemia.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Hufnagel, Antonia 
Dearden, Laura 
Fernandez-Twinn, Denise S 

Abstract

Obesity and gestational diabetes during pregnancy have multiple short- and long-term consequences for both mother and child. One common feature of pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity and gestational diabetes is maternal hyperinsulinaemia, which has effects on the mother and her adaptation to pregnancy. Even though insulin does not cross the placenta insulin can act on the placenta as well affecting placental growth, angiogenesis and lipid metabolism. Obese and gestational diabetic pregnancies are often characterised by maternal hyperglycaemia resulting in exposure of the fetus to high levels of glucose, which freely crosses the placenta. This leads to stimulation of fetal ß-cells and insulin secretion in the fetus. Fetal hyperglycaemia/hyperinsulinaemia has been shown to cause multiple complications in fetal development, such as altered growth trajectories, impaired neuronal and cardiac development and early exhaustion of the pancreas. These changes could increase the susceptibility of the offspring to develop cardiometabolic diseases later in life. In this review, we aim to summarize and review the mechanisms by which maternal and fetal hyperinsulinaemia impact on (i) maternal health during pregnancy; (ii) placental and fetal development; (iii) offspring energy homeostasis and long-term cardiometabolic health; (iv) how interventions can alleviate these effects.

Description

Keywords

developmental programming, fetal hyperinsulinaemia, gestational diabetes, maternal hyperinsulinaemia, pregnancy, Cardiovascular Diseases, Female, Fetal Development, Fetus, Humans, Hyperinsulinism, Placenta, Pregnancy

Journal Title

J Endocrinol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0022-0795
1479-6805

Volume Title

253

Publisher

Bioscientifica
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12012/4)
British Heart Foundation (RG/17/12/33167)
Wellcome Trust (106026/Z/14/Z)
Wellcome Trust (108926/B/15/Z)
British Heart Foundation (PG/20/11/34957)
MRC (MC_UU_00014/5)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_12012)