Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Nonn, O.
Effects of Physical Activity in Pregnancy on Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Maternal Serum
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit/Master Thesis (UNI) ] Graz Medical University; 2017. pp.148.
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- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Nonn Olivia
- Advisor:
- Haas Josef
- Jantscher-Krenn Evelyn
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Background: Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) are bioactive glycans found not only in human milk, but already in the systemic circulation of both mother and foetus. Some HMO structures are known to have anti-inflammatory and/or immunomodulatory effects. HMO are known to be influenced by genetic factors, which amongst others are determining HMO biosynthesis. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was postulated to have anti-inflammatory effects in non-pregnant individuals. For pregnant individuals, who are in a physiological state of low-grade inflammation, a minimum of 150 minutes MVPA per week is recommended by the WHO. However, whether environmental factors such as regular physical activity may influence the prenatal HMO concentrations and composition, is not known. Hypothesis: We hypothesised that physical activity during pregnancy influences HMO levels and composition in maternal serum. Subjects and Methods: Healthy women with a singleton pregnancy in their 10-14th week of gestation were recruited at the Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Graz, between February and October 2013. Exclusion criteria were multiple miscarriages, increased risk after combined test, foetal anomalies, smoking, maternal metabolic risk factors, pre-pregnancy Diabetes mellitus and pregravid hypertension. Women participating had three study visits during pregnancy and one at delivery. Physical activity (PA) was objectively measured by accelerometer (ActiGraph) over one week, at three time points during pregnancy (visits V1, V2, V3). HMO were determined from maternal blood samples, which were collected at V1, V2, V3, delivery, and were analysed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Results: We obtained complete data sets on PA measurements and HMO samples from 12 healthy pregnant women. Their mean age was 34.5 ± 5.5 years, pre-pregnancy BMI was 22 ± 2.6 kg/m2 with an overall BMI increase during pregnancy of 6.3 ± 1.6 kg/m2. In unadjusted analysis we found that early pregnancy PA correlated negatively with total or individual HMO concentrations, measured at the visit following the respective PA-recording. PA at the first visit correlated significantly to HMO concentrations at visits 2, 3 and at delivery. PA, as measured objectively in early pregnancy, did not have any effect on HMO composition during the course of gestation. No association was found of HMO and various weight-related outcome measures. Conclusion: In summary, we showed that PA, as measured objectively in early pregnancy, seems to influence the concentration but not composition of maternal HMO in serum. Further studies, e.g. with PA as life-style intervention, are needed to confirm this finding, as well as larger sample size to allow statistical adjusting for confounding factors.