Postpartum Metabolism: How Does It Change from Pregnancy and What are the Potential Implications?

Figures & data

Table 1 Descriptive Statistics and Metabolic Factors During Late Pregnancy and 4–6 Months Postpartum

	Pregnancy (n=25)	Postpartum (n=25)	p-value
BMI (kg/m^2)	24.5±3.7 (pre-pregnancy BMI)	25.5 ± 4.4
BMI Classification (based on pre-pregnancy BMI)
Lean	16 (64%)
Overweight	7 (28%)
Obese	2 (8%)
Age (y)	31.4±4.2
Gestation age at visit (weeks)	33.9±1.6
Parity
Nulliparous	16 (64%)
Multiparous	9 (36%)
Lactation Status
Lactating		18 (72%)
Not-Lactating		7 (28%)
Weight (kg)*	80.2±11.4	69.6±13.1	<0.001
Body fat percentage^Citation15 (%)	26.8±7.5	26.2±10.2	0.632
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	122.1±15.2	122.9±14.4	0.801
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	74.9±11.9	78.2±9.0	0.145
Resting heart rate (bpm)	84.0±10.9	74.4±12.9	<0.001
Physical activity levels
Sedentary (%)	56.4±9.4	55.6±9.8	0.692
Moderate (%)	12.0±4.1	12.8±4.2	0.338
Dietary intake
Energy (kcal/day)	1972.7±818.0	1844.0±973.5	0.382
Fat (g)	85.3±45.2	78.4±44.8	0.301
Carb (g)	230.6±89.4	213.3±112.7	0.354
Protein (g)	81.2±40.3	77.9±46.6	0.652
CRP (mg/L)*	4.2±2.6	1.8±2.0	0.001
Insulin(uU/mL)*	8.0±3.6	5.8±3.1	0.046
Glucose (mg/dL)*	80.2±8.1	96.6±11.2	0.089
HOMA-IR	1.59±0.79	1.27±0.74	0.185
Free fatty acids (meq/L)	0.43±0.15	0.41±0.17	0.803
Triglycerides (mg/dL)*	207.5±73	64.5±35.7	<0.001
Resting metabolic rate (kcal)*	1867.9±302.6	1517.2±225.1	<0.001
RMR per kg body weight (kcal/kg)*	23.7±3.4	22.3±2.7	0.034
Respiratory quotient	0.8165 ±0.0594	0.8291±0.04498	0.418
Lipid oxidation rate (g/min)*	0.0793±0.0337	0.0626±0.01932	0.049
Lipid oxidation per kg body weight (g/kg/min)	0.010± 0.0004	0.009±0.0003	0.436
Carbohydrate oxidation (g/min)	0.1426±0.0556	0.1276±0.05339	0.340
Carbohydrate oxidation per kg body weight (g/kg/min)	0.0018±0.0008	0.0019±0.0008	0.761

Note: *p<0.05.

Figure 1 Relative resting metabolic rate and insulin resistance are negatively correlated at 4-6 months postpartum

Figure 2 Postpartum weight retention is positively correlated with metabolic outcomes including (A) insulin resistance, (B) inflammation, (C) triglycerides, and (D) carbohydrate oxidation. 

Huston presley L, Wong WW, Roman NM, Amini SB, Catalano PM. Anthropometric estimation of maternal body composition in late gestation. Obstet Gynecol. 2000;96(1):33–37. doi:10.1016/S0029-7844(00)00857-7

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