# The impact of lifestyle interventions prior to pregnancy on maternal and neonatal adipocyte metabolism

> **NIH NIH F32** · TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $64,926

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Global health agencies have reported their concern on the increasing trend in women entering pregnancy as
either overweight or obese and having excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). Follow-up studies of mother-
offspring dyads have shown the association between maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and GWG
as significant contributors to offspring development. The increasing prevalence in childhood obesity is a public
health matter since obese children are likely to stay obese in adulthood and develop diseases associated with
the metabolic syndrome earlier in life. Clinical studies have demonstrated the associations of pregravid maternal
obesity with infant adiposity and cardiometabolic risk, suggesting a possible mechanistic link between in utero
overnutrition with fetal overgrowth and high risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the
offspring. Therefore, prevention of childhood obesity begins with interventions on maternal BMI before gestation.
The research project proposed for this fellowship is an ancillary study of the randomized controlled trial “Lifestyle
Interventions in Preparation for Pregnancy” (LIPP). The goal of the intervention (Mediterranean diet and guided
exercise) is to promote a 5-7% weight loss before a planned pregnancy in overweight/obese women to improve
maternal metabolism and reduce neonatal adiposity. Evidence from clinical research has reported the benefits
of 5-10% weight loss on improving adipose tissue (AT) insulin sensitivity, however the molecular changes in AT
driving enhanced insulin sensitivity in this range of weight loss need to be determined. The proposed ancillary
study seeks to provide empirical data on the longitudinal effects of the intervention on maternal adipocyte glucose
and lipid metabolism as well as the inflammatory state. The analysis will be done utilizing gluteal AT biopsies
obtained at study enrollment (baseline), 6 months after randomization, and in early pregnancy. The molecular
longitudinal changes will be associated with clinical metabolic parameters of body composition, resting energy
expenditure, and serum markers of inflammation and insulin resistance. In addition to the maternal studies, I will
investigate if the intervention beneficially impacts the metabolic programming of umbilical cord mesenchymal
stem cells (ucMSC). I will utilize the novel technique of ucMSC adipogenic differentiation (ad-ucMSC) as an
index of neonatal adipocyte function and determine if lifestyle interventions prior to a planned pregnancy enhance
insulin sensitivity and improve lipid metabolism of ad-ucMSC. The proposed research is a unique opportunity to
investigate the longitudinal effects of pregravid lifestyle interventions on maternal AT metabolic function and
neonatal adiposity. The findings obtained will examine potential early biomarkers and mechanisms as predictors
of long-term metabolic outcomes in the offspring.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10068461
- **Project number:** 1F32HD103310-01
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Raziel Rojas-Rodriguez
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $64,926
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2023-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10068461

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10068461, The impact of lifestyle interventions prior to pregnancy on maternal and neonatal adipocyte metabolism (1F32HD103310-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10068461. Licensed CC0.

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