Abstract
Background
Perinatal inflammation adversely affects health. Therefore, aims of this IRB-approved study are: (1) compare inflammatory compounds within and between maternal and umbilical cord blood samples at the time of delivery, (2) assess relationships between inflammatory compounds in maternal and cord blood with birth characteristics/outcomes, and (3) assess relationships between blood and placental fat-soluble nutrients with blood levels of individual inflammatory compounds.
Methods
Mother−infant dyads were enrolled (n = 152) for collection of birth data and biological samples of maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and placental tissue. Nutrient levels included: lutein + zeaxanthin; lycopene; α-, β-carotene; β-cryptoxanthin; retinol; α-, γ-, δ-tocopherol. Inflammatory compounds included: tumor necrosis factor-α, superoxide dismutase, interleukins (IL) 1β, 2, 6, 8, 10.
Results
Median inflammatory compound levels were 1.2–2.3 times higher in cord vs. maternal blood, except IL2 (1.3 times lower). Multiple significant correlations existed between maternal vs. infant inflammatory compounds (range of r = 0.22–0.48). While relationships existed with blood nutrient levels, the most significant were identified in placenta where all nutrients (except δ-tocopherol) exhibited relationships with inflammatory compounds. Relationships between anti-inflammatory nutrients and proinflammatory compounds were primarily inverse.
Conclusion
Inflammation is strongly correlated between mother−infant dyads. Fat-soluble nutrients have relationships with inflammatory compounds, suggesting nutrition is a modifiable factor.
Impact
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Mother and newborn inflammation status are strongly interrelated.
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Levels of fat-soluble nutrients in blood, but especially placenta, are associated with blood levels of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory compounds in both mother and newborn infant.
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As fat-soluble nutrient levels are associated with blood inflammatory compounds, nutrition is a modifiable factor to modulate inflammation and improve perinatal outcomes.
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Acknowledgements
Carotenoid analysis was funded by the Child Health Research Institute by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Inflammatory mediator analysis was funded by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Clinical Translational Research Mentored Scholars Program Pilot Award to J.N.S.
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Conceptualization, all authors; methodology, all authors; software, all authors; validation, all authors; formal analysis, E.R.L.; investigation, all authors; resources, all authors; data curation, all authors; investigation, all authors; writing—original draft preparation, M.K.T. and J.N.S.; writing—review and editing, all authors; visualization, all authors; supervision; A.L.A.-B., C.K.H. and J.N.S.; project administration, J.N.S.; funding acquisition, M.K.T., A.L.A.-B., C.K.H. and J.N.S.
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Written informed consent was obtained for each mother−infant dyad before enrollment into this study.
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Thoene, M.K., Van Ormer, M.C., Lyden, E.R. et al. Concentrations of fat-soluble nutrients and blood inflammatory compounds in mother−infant dyads at birth. Pediatr Res 90, 436–443 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-01302-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-01302-8
