Influence of maternal genetic risk scores of lipid traits on offspring birthweight in diverse ethnic populations

Authors

• M Ouidir
• P Mendola
• J Grewal
• KL Grantz
• C Zhang
• J Wu
• F Tekola-Ayele

Abstract

Purpose: Maternal metabolic factors can impact offspring birthweight. We investigated the association between maternal genetic susceptibility for dyslipidemia (i.e. higher plasma triglycerides and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc)) and offspring birthweight among four race/ethnic populations (non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, Asians). Methods: We extracted genotype data for 1,872 women recruited through the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies-singleton cohort. Genetic risk scores (GRS) related to higher triglycerides and lower HDLc were calculated using 149 single nucleotide polymorphisms previously known to be associated with triglycerides and HDLc plasma concentrations. Associations between maternal lipid trait GRS and birthweight were tested using linear regression adjusted for potential confounders, followed by analysis stratified by maternal pre-pregnancy obesity status. Results: A unit increase in triglyceride-raising allele was associated with 7.72 g higher birthweight (95% CI: 0.44, 14.99) among under- and normal-weight (body-mass index, BMI < 25 kg/m2) non-Hispanic whites, with a birthweight-reducing effect in obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) women. In contrast, each triglyceride-raising allele was associated with 25.47 g higher birthweight (95% CI: 8.06, 42.88) among obese non-Hispanic blacks, with a birthweight-reducing effect in under- and normal-weight women. The mean birthweight in obese non-Hispanic black women in the highest GRS triglyceride quartile was 286.86 g higher (95% CI: 83.59, 490.13) than those in the lowest quartile. Each HDLc-lowering allele was associated with 17.30 g lower birthweight (95% CI: -34.48, -0.13) among obese Hispanics. Conclusions: The relation between birthweight and maternal genetic susceptibility for higher triglycerides and lower HDLc appears to vary by race and obesity status.

Scientific Focus Area: Epidemiology

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