Maternal nutrition during gestation and blood pressure in later life

Objective To assess the link between maternal diet during pregnancy and blo od pressure of the offspring, Design Follow-up study. Setting A university hospital in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Participants People born at term as singletons between November 1943 and Fe bruary 1947, Main outcome measure Blood pressure at adult age, Results Adult blood pressure was not associated with protein, carbohydrate or fat intake during any period of gestation, We found, however, after adju stment for sex that the systolic blood pressure decreased by 0.6 mmHg (0.1- 1.1)for every 1% increase in protein/carbohydrate ratio in the third trimes ter, This association was present both in people who had been exposed to th e famine during gestation as well as in those who had not been exposed, The association between protein/carbohydrate ratio in the third trimester and adult blood pressure was furthermore independent of maternal weight gain an d final weight, and birth weight [increase for every 1% increase in protein /carbohydrate ratio 0.6 mmHg (0.0-1.2)], Adjustment for adult characteristi cs such as body mass index, smoking and socio-economic status did not affec t the observed association appreciably [adjusted increase 0.5 mmHg (0.0-1.0 )]. Conclusion Adult blood pressure seems to be affected by small variations in the balance of macro-nutrients in the maternal diet during gestation rathe r than by relatively large variations in the absolute amounts. (C) 2001 Lip pincott Williams & Wilkins.