Background

Fetal growth, an important predictor of cardiometabolic diseases in adults, is influenced by maternal and fetal genetic and environmental factors.

Objective

We investigated the association between maternal lipid genetic risk score (GRS) and fetal growth among 4 US racial–ethnic populations (Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians).

Methods

We extracted genotype data for 2008 pregnant women recruited in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies—Singleton cohort with up to 6 standardized ultrasound examinations. GRS was calculated using 240 single-nucleotide polymorphisms previously associated with higher total cholesterol (GRS_TChol), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (GRS_LDLc), and triglycerides (GRS_TG) and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (GRS_HDLc).

Results

At 40 weeks’ gestation, a unit increase in GRS_TG was associated with 11.4 g higher fetal weight (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.8–20.0 g) among normal-weight Whites, 26.3 g (95% CI 6.0–46.6 g) among obese Blacks, and 30.8 g (95% CI 6.3–55.3 g) among obese Hispanics. Higher GRS_HDLc was associated with increased fetal weight across 36 to 40 weeks among normal-weight Whites and across 13 to 20 weeks among normal-weight Asians, but with decreased fetal weight across 26 to 40 weeks among normal-weight Hispanics. Higher GRS_TChol was suggestively associated with increased fetal weight in males and decreased in females. Associations remained consistent after adjustment for serum lipids.

Conclusion

Associations between fetal weight and maternal lipid GRS appear to vary by maternal race–ethnic group, obesity status, and offspring sex. Genetic susceptibility to unfavorable lipid profiles contributes to fetal growth differences even among normal-weight women suggesting a potential future application in predicting aberrant fetal growth.

中文翻译：

---

母亲脂质性状遗传风险评分与胎儿纵向生长关联的种族差异。

 背景

胎儿生长是成人心脏代谢疾病的重要预测因素，受到母体和胎儿遗传和环境因素的影响。

 客观的

我们调查了美国 4 个种族人群（白人、黑人、西班牙裔和亚洲人）的母亲脂质遗传风险评分 (GRS) 与胎儿生长之间的关联。

 方法

我们提取了国家儿童健康和人类发展胎儿生长研究所招募的 2008 名孕妇的基因型数据——单例队列，最多进行 6 次标准化超声检查。 GRS 使用 240 个单核苷酸多态性计算，该多态性先前与较高的总胆固醇 (GRS _TChol )、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇 (GRS _LDLc ) 和甘油三酯 (GRS _TG ) 以及较低的高密度脂蛋白胆固醇 (GRS _HDLc ) 相关。

 结果

妊娠 40 周时，GRS _TG每增加一个单位，胎儿体重就会增加 11.4 克（95% 置信区间 [CI] 2.8–20.0 克），正常体重的白人则增加 26.3 克（95% CI 6.0–46.6 克）肥胖黑人中为 30.8 克（95% CI 6.3–55.3 克）。在正常体重的白人中，较高的 GRS _{HDLc 与 36 至 40 周内的胎儿体重增加有关，在正常体重的亚洲人中，较高的 GRS HDLc}与 13 至 20 周内的胎儿体重增加有关，但在正常体重的西班牙裔中，较高的 GRS HDLc 与 26 至 40 周内的胎儿体重下降有关。较高的 GRS _Tchol与男性胎儿体重增加有关，而与女性胎儿体重下降有关。调整血清脂质后，相关性保持一致。

 结论

胎儿体重与母体脂质 GRS 之间的关联似乎因母体种族、民族、肥胖状况和后代性别而异。即使在正常体重的女性中，对不利脂质谱的遗传易感性也会导致胎儿生长差异，这表明未来可能应用于预测异常胎儿生长。