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The impact of maternal cortisol concentrations on child arterial elasticity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2010

P. H. C. Rondó ,
J. A. Pereira ,
J. O. Lemos  and
R. F. Ferreira
P. H. C. Rondó*
Affiliation:
Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr Arnaldo 715, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
J. A. Pereira
Affiliation:
Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr Arnaldo 715, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Nutrition Department, Federal University of Piauí, Campus Senador Helvídio Nunes de Barros, Rua Cícero Eduardo s/n, Bairro Junco, Picus, PI, Brazil
J. O. Lemos
Affiliation:
Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr Arnaldo 715, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
R. F. Ferreira
Affiliation:
Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr Arnaldo 715, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr P. H. C. Rondó, Nutrition Department, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr Arnaldo 715, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 64600-000, Brazil. (Email: phcrondo@usp.br)
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Abstract

Epidemiological studies suggest that glucocorticoid excess in the fetus may contribute to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. However, the impact of maternal glucocorticoid on the cardiovascular system of the offspring has not been much explored in studies involving humans, especially in childhood. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of maternal cortisol concentrations on child arterial elasticity. One hundred and thirty pregnant women followed from 1997 to 2000, and respective children 5–7 years of age followed from 2004 to 2006 were included in the study. Maternal cortisol was determined in saliva by an enzyme immunoassay utilizing the mean concentration of nine samples of saliva. Arterial elasticity was assessed by the large artery elasticity index (LAEI; the capacitive elasticity of large arteries) by recording radial artery pulse wave, utilizing the equipment HDI/PulseWave CR-2000 Cardiovascular Profiling System®. The nutritional status of the children was determined by the body mass index (BMI). Insulin concentration was assessed by chemiluminescence, and insulin resistance by the homeostasis model assessment. Blood glucose, total cholesterol and fractions (LDL-c and HDL-c) and triglyceride concentrations were determined by automated enzymatic methods. The association between maternal cortisol and child arterial elasticity was assessed by multivariate linear regression analysis. There was a statistically significant association between maternal cortisol and LAEI (P = 0.02), controlling for birth weight, age, BMI and HDL-c of the children. This study suggests that exposure to higher glucocorticoid concentrations in the prenatal period is associated to lower arterial elasticity in childhood, an earlier cardiovascular risk marker.

Keywords

arterial elasticitychildrencortisolprogramming
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , 23 February 2011 , pp. 56 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2010

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