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Metabolism in pregnancy: a field for novel therapies

Nature Reviews Endocrinology volume 10, page 310 (2014)Cite this article

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In response to the recent Review by Sheila Collins (A heart–adipose tissue connection in the regulation of energy metabolism. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 10, 157–163; 2014),1 we would like to mention important data pertaining to pregnant women, a special population in whom natriuretic peptides are widely studied. During pregnancy, maternal lipid metabolism changes to a catabolic state characterized by increased adipose tissue lipolysis.2 This catabolic state is the target of many pharmaceutical and behavioural treatment interventions.

In the past couple of years, baseline natriuretic peptide B (BNP) levels during pregnancy have been found not to be correlated with maternal pregnant weight or BMI.3 This observation demonstrates that, in pregnancy, BNP is produced at elevated levels, regardless of adipose tissue deposits, thus indicating that BNP plays a vital part in maternal metabolism. In women with pre-eclampsia, BNP levels are correlated with leptin levels, implying a potential role for BNP in lipid metabolism.4 The increased lipolysis observed during pregnancy could, therefore, be partly attributed to elevated levels of natriuretic peptides as compared with those in adults who are not pregnant. Equally noteworthy is the fact that natriuretic peptide A (ANP) levels are high in the foetus, indicating the involvement of ANP in increased neonatal thermogenesis.5

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens Medical School, 124B Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens, 11526, Greece

    Nikolaos Vrachnis

  2. Hellenic Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10 Alkaiou Street, Athens, 11528, Greece

    Dimitrios Zygouris

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Room 220C, University of Ioannina Medical School, Panepistimiou Avenue, Ioannina, 45100, Greece

    Sophia Kalantaridou

  4. Department of Neonatology, University of Athens Medical School, Aretaieio Hospital, 2 Anninou Street, Zografou, Athens, 15771, Greece

    Zoe Iliodromiti

Authors
  1. Nikolaos Vrachnis
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  2. Dimitrios Zygouris
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  3. Sophia Kalantaridou
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  4. Zoe Iliodromiti
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Correspondence to Nikolaos Vrachnis.

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Vrachnis, N., Zygouris, D., Kalantaridou, S. et al. Metabolism in pregnancy: a field for novel therapies. Nat Rev Endocrinol 10, 310 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2013.234-c1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2013.234-c1

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