Maternal Aerobic Exercise, but Not Blood Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Concentrations, during Pregnancy Influence Infant Body Composition

Cody J. Strom, Samantha M. McDonald, Mary-Margaret Remchak, Kimberly A. Kew, Blake R. Rushing, Joseph A. Houmard, David A. Tulis, Roman Pawlak, George A. Kelley, Lisa Chasan-Taber, Edward Newton, Christy Isler, James DeVente, Madigan Raper and Linda E. May
Additional contact information
Cody J. Strom: Department of Kinesiology and Sport, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN 47712, USA
Samantha M. McDonald: School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
Mary-Margaret Remchak: Department of Kinesiology & Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Kimberly A. Kew: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Blake R. Rushing: Department of Nutrition, Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
Joseph A. Houmard: Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
David A. Tulis: Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Roman Pawlak: Department of Nutrition Science, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
George A. Kelley: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
Lisa Chasan-Taber: Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Edward Newton: College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Christy Isler: College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
James DeVente: College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Madigan Raper: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
Linda E. May: Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-15

Abstract: Although discrete maternal exercise and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation individually are beneficial for infant body composition, the effects of exercise and PUFA during pregnancy on infant body composition have not been studied. This study evaluated the body composition of infants born to women participating in a randomized control exercise intervention study. Participants were randomized to aerobic exercise (n = 25) or control (stretching and breathing) groups (n = 10). From 16 weeks of gestation until delivery, the groups met 3×/week. At 16 and 36 weeks of gestation, maternal blood was collected and analyzed for Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA). At 1 month postnatal, infant body composition was assessed via skinfolds (SFs) and circumferences. Data from 35 pregnant women and infants were analyzed via t -tests, correlations, and regression. In a per protocol analysis, infants born to aerobic exercisers exhibited lower SF thicknesses of triceps ( p = 0.008), subscapular ( p = 0.04), SF sum ( p = 0.01), and body fat (BF) percentage (%) ( p = 0.006) compared with controls. After controlling for 36-week DHA and EPA levels, exercise dose was determined to be a negative predictor for infant skinfolds of triceps ( p = 0.001, r 2 = 0.27), subscapular ( p = 0.008, r 2 = 0.19), SF sum ( p = 0.001, r 2 = 0.28), mid-upper arm circumference ( p = 0.049, r 2 = 0.11), and BF% ( p = 0.001, r 2 = 0.32). There were no significant findings for PUFAs and infant measures: during pregnancy, exercise dose, but not blood DHA or EPA levels, reduces infant adiposity.

Keywords: pregnancy; exercise; DHA; EPA; infant; body composition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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