Neonatal Body Composition and Feeding Outcomes in Infants of Diabetic Mothers
Author Information
Author(s): Azuma Dara, Penner Yvette, Kaneko-Tarui Tomoko, Mahmoud Taysir, Breeze Janis L., Rodday Angie, O’Tierney-Ginn Perrie, Maron Jill L.
Primary Institution: Mother Infant Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center
Hypothesis
Does saliva serve as an informative biofluid for detecting expression of hunger signaling and energy homeostasis modulator genes in infants of diabetic mothers?
Conclusion
The study found that infants of diabetic mothers had greater adiposity and different salivary gene expression profiles compared to infants born to normoglycemic mothers.
Supporting Evidence
- Infants of diabetic mothers had greater adiposity compared to those born to normoglycemic mothers.
- Only 3 infants in the diabetic cohort had documented feeding issues, while none in the control group did.
- Salivary gene expression of hunger signaling genes was assessed using RT-qPCR.
Takeaway
This study looked at how the saliva of babies born to diabetic mothers can show signs of hunger and body fat, helping us understand their feeding problems.
Methodology
This was a prospective cohort pilot study comparing infants born to diabetic mothers and those born to normoglycemic mothers, assessing salivary gene expression and body composition.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small number of infants with feeding issues and the exclusion of infants with certain conditions.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and did not quantify maternal glucose control or medication use during pregnancy.
Participant Demographics
The study included 45 infants, with 23 from diabetic mothers and 22 from normoglycemic mothers, with efforts made to balance male and female infants.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Confidence Interval
0.36, 1.09
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website