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Maternal Exercise Dose Response Effect on Fetal Heart Rate and Variability
Author(s) -
May Linda E,
Glaros Alan G,
Gustafson Kathleen M,
Suminski Richard R
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.629.7
Subject(s) - medicine , fetus , heart rate , confounding , gestational age , endocrinology , cardiology , heart rate variability , pregnancy , blood pressure , biology , genetics
We did a retrospective analysis to determine if there was a dose response relationship between maternal exercise and fetal heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV). We used hierarchal linear regression of 36 wk data from MCG recordings and activity questionnaires. Associations between maternal kilocalories per min (kcal/min) and total kcal expended (Tkcal) during exercise and fetal HR and HRV (ie. SDNN, RMSSD, VLF, LF, HF) were examined. We controlled for maternal resting HR, maternal weight, maternal kcal while sedentary, and fetal activity state. In univariate analysis, SDNN, VLF, and LF were positively correlated with Tkcal (p<0.05) and fetal HR was negatively correlated. SDNN and HF were positively correlated with kcal/min (p<0.05). After controlling for confounders, significant associations were found with Tkcal and SDNN (t=2.7) and between kcal/min and fetal HR (t = −2.3), RMSSD (t= 2.2), and HF (t=2.2). Maternal exercise variables explained significant portions of the variance in fetal measures: HR (17.8%), RMSSD (15.5%), SDNN (20.4%), and HF (15.7%). Maternal exercise intensity and energy expenditure has a dose response effect on the fetal heart consistent with the development origins hypothesis. These findings will guide future studies using exercise as an intervention for improving maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Research supported by: KCUMB and Hoglund Brain Imaging Center funds Grant Funding Source: KCUMB