The relationship between weight gain during pregnancy and allopregnanolone levels: a longitudinal study

• Published in: Endocrine Connections
• Main Authors: Anette Lundqvist, Herbert Sandström, Torbjörn Bäckström
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Bioscientifica 2017
• Subjects: allopregnanolone; pregnancy; weight increase; longitudinal; Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology; RC648-665; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-17-0046; https://doaj.org/article/ab3bbe2cc5df45b4ac480a3b15cf19a0

Objective: Large weight gain during pregnancy is a risk factor for complications for mother and fetus. Hunger and satiety are regulated in the hypothalamus, where the gamma-amino-butyric acid system (GABA) has an important role. Allopregnanolone, a progesterone metabolite, increases during pregnancy and is a potent GABA-A receptor modulating steroid. Allopregnanolone has been shown to induce overeating in rodents. The aim was to investigate whether there is a relationship between weight gain and allopregnanolone concentrations during pregnancy in humans. Design: A longitudinal, cohort study. Methods: Pregnant women (n = 56) were recruited in primary care in northern Sweden. Allopregnanolone concentrations in plasma were measured using radioimmunoassay and weight was measured in gestational weeks 12 and 35. Results: Weight increase correlated significantly to allopregnanolone in late pregnancy increase (rs = 0.320; P = 0.016), indicating a positive relationship between weight increase and allopregnanolone increase. A positive relationship was also noted between allopregnanolone in the 35th gestational week and weight increase. Women who gained ≥11 kg during pregnancy showed higher allopregnanolone concentrations in week 35 and higher increase compared to women who increased <11 kg (P = 0.006 and P = 0.009 resp.). There was no difference in weight or allopregnanolone concentrations at the onset of pregnancy. Conclusions: The results show a relationship between weight gain during pregnancy and increase in allopregnanolone concentrations.