Summary: Effects of Physical Activity on Blood Lipids and HbA1c in Pregnant WomenSummary: Effects of Physical Activity on Blood Lipids and HbA1c in Pregnant Women Background: Maternal blood lipids and glucose levels during pregnancy play a crucial role in fetal development and pregnancy-related complications. This study examined the effects of physical activity (PA) on lipid profiles and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in pregnant women. Methods: 216 pregnant women were randomly assigned to PA interventions or standard care and followed throughout their pregnancies. Lipid profiles (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides) and HbA1c levels were measured at multiple time points. PA was objectively assessed using an activity tracker. Results: PA Interventions: No significant effects of the PA interventions on lipid profiles or HbA1c were observed. Objective PA Measurement: Higher moderate-to-vigorous-intensity exercise and active kilocalorie consumption were associated with: * Reduced increases in TC and LDL-C during pregnancy * Attenuated increases in HDL-C (only with active kilocalorie consumption) Conclusions: Although PA interventions did not demonstrate measurable effects, higher PA levels were linked to favorable changes in maternal lipid metabolism. Significance: Regular physical activity may have a positive impact on maternal lipid profiles during pregnancy, potentially reducing the risk of dyslipidemia-related complications. Further research is needed to optimize PA interventions and establish long-term effects.
Below is a summary of “Effects of physical activity on blood lipids and HbA1c in healthy pregnant women: the FitMum randomized controlled trial,” published in the July 2024 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology by Jensen et al.
Maternal blood lipid and glucose concentrations during pregnancy significantly influence fetal development and the risk of pregnancy-related complications. This study aimed to investigate the impact of physical activity (PA) on maternal blood lipid profiles and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels during pregnancy, with the hypothesis that increased PA would improve lipid profiles and glycemic control.
In this secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, 216 pregnant women were enrolled before week 15+0 and assigned to two different PA interventions or standard care. The effects of these interventions on maternal blood lipid concentrations (total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides) and HbA1c were assessed at multiple time points: ≤15+0 weeks, 28+0-6 weeks, 34+0-6 weeks, and at delivery (weeks 32+1 to 42+0). In addition, the influence of PA measured by an activity tracker was analyzed. Linear mixed effects models and linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the effects of interventions and PA.
No significant effects of the PA interventions on maternal lipid profiles or HbA1c levels during pregnancy were observed. However, higher levels of PA measured by minutes per week of moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise were associated with reduced increases in TC (β = -1.3E-04, p = 0.020) and LDL-C (β = -8.5E-05, p = 0.035) during pregnancy.
Similarly, a greater number of active kilocalories consumed was associated with attenuated increases in TC (β = -5.5E-05, p < 0.001), HDL-C (β = -9.5E-06, p = 0.024), and LDL-C (β = -3.2E-05, p = 0.005).
Although PA interventions did not show significant effects, higher PA levels were associated with favorable changes in maternal lipid profiles during pregnancy. These findings underscore the potential role of regular PA in attenuating adverse changes in lipid metabolism, potentially reducing the risk of dyslipidemia-related pregnancy complications.
Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1530891X24005998
