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Associations of maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy with abdominal and liver fat deposition in childhood
Author(s) -
Voerman Ellis,
Jaddoe Vincent WV,
Hulst Mirjam E,
Oei Edwin HG,
Gaillard Romy
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pediatric obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.226
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 2047-6310
pISSN - 2047-6302
DOI - 10.1111/ijpo.12607
Subject(s) - medicine , body mass index , pregnancy , endocrinology , physiology , obesity , intra abdominal fat , caffeine , fatty liver , population , adipose tissue , childhood obesity , insulin resistance , disease , visceral fat , overweight , biology , environmental health , genetics
Summary Background Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity. Studies in adults suggest that caffeine intake might also directly affect visceral and liver fat deposition, which are strong risk factors for cardio‐metabolic disease. Objective To assess the associations of maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy with childhood general, abdominal, and liver fat mass at 10 years of age. Methods In a population‐based cohort from early pregnancy onwards among 4770 mothers and children, we assessed maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and childhood fat mass at age 10 years. Results Compared with children whose mothers consumed <2 units of caffeine per day during pregnancy, those whose mothers consumed 4‐5.9 and ≥6 units of caffeine per day had a higher body mass index, total body fat mass index, android/gynoid fat mass ratio, and abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat mass indices. Children whose mothers consumed 4‐5.9 units of caffeine per day had a higher liver fat fraction. The associations with abdominal visceral fat and liver fat persisted after taking childhood total body fat mass into account. Conclusions High maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy was associated with higher childhood body mass index, total body fat, abdominal visceral fat, and liver fat. The associations with childhood abdominal visceral fat and liver fat fraction were independent of childhood total body fat. This suggests differential fat accumulation in these depots, which may increase susceptibility to cardio‐metabolic disease in later life.