Gale Catharine R, Jiang Benyu, Robinson Sian M, Godfrey Keith M, Law Catherine M, Martyn Christopher N
MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, University of Southampton, UK.
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006 Aug;26(8):1877-82. doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000228819.13039.b8. Epub 2006 May 25.
Autopsy studies show that intimal lipid accumulations in arteries are often present at birth, suggesting that the prenatal environment plays a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In animal models, a restricted or unbalanced maternal diet during gestation can influence susceptibility to atherosclerosis, but the relation in humans between maternal diet during pregnancy and atherogenesis is unknown.
We measured carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in 216 nine-year-old children whose mothers had participated in a study of nutrition during pregnancy. IMT was greater in boys, in children who were heavier, in those with higher systolic blood pressure, and in those who took less exercise. Increased IMT was associated with a lower maternal energy intake in early (P=0.029) or late (P=0.006) pregnancy, after adjustment for these factors. Mean IMT of children whose mothers were in the lowest quarter of the distribution of energy intake in late pregnancy was 0.027 mm (95% confidence interval, 0.004 to 0.049) greater than that of those whose mothers were in the highest quarter of the distribution.
Lower maternal energy intake during pregnancy may increase the susceptibility to atherogenesis of the child.
尸检研究表明，动脉内膜脂质蓄积在出生时往往就已存在，这表明产前环境在动脉粥样硬化的发病机制中起作用。在动物模型中，孕期母体饮食受限或不均衡会影响动脉粥样硬化的易感性，但孕期母体饮食与人类动脉粥样硬化发生之间的关系尚不清楚。
我们测量了216名9岁儿童的颈动脉内膜中层厚度（IMT），这些儿童的母亲曾参与一项孕期营养研究。男孩、体重较重的儿童、收缩压较高的儿童以及运动量较少的儿童的IMT更大。在对这些因素进行调整后，IMT增加与孕早期（P=0.029）或孕晚期（P=0.006）母体能量摄入较低有关。母亲在孕晚期能量摄入分布处于最低四分位数的儿童的平均IMT比母亲在能量摄入分布处于最高四分位数的儿童高0.027毫米（95%置信区间，0.004至0.049）。
孕期母体能量摄入较低可能会增加儿童动脉粥样硬化发生的易感性。
