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Maternal cholesterol levels during gestation: boon or bane for the offspring?

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry volume 476, pages 401–416 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

An increase in cholesterol levels is perceived during pregnancy and is considered as a normal adaptive response to the development of the fetus. In some pregnancies, excessive increase in total cholesterol with high levels of Low-Density Lipoprotein leads to maladaptation by the fetus to cholesterol demands, resulting in a pathological condition termed as maternal hypercholesterolemia (MH). MH is considered clinically irrelevant and therefore cholesterol levels are not routinely checked during pregnancy, as a consequence of which there is scarce information on its global prevalence in pregnant women. Studies have reported that MH during pregnancy can cause atherogenesis in adults emphasizing the concept of in utero programming of fetus. Moreover, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome are potential risk factors which strengthen combined pathologies in placenta and fetuses of mothers with MH. However, lack of conclusive evidence on cholesterol transport and underlying programming demand substantial research to develop population-based life style strategies for women in their childbearing years. The current review focuses on the mechanisms and outcomes of MH from existing epidemiological as well as experimental data and presents a detailed insight on this novel risk factor of cardiovascular diseases.

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Indian Council for Medical Research (5/4/1-5/2019 NCD-II), Department of Science and Technology-Inspire Fellowship (IF 170711).

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  1. Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

    V. S. Jayalekshmi & Surya Ramachandran

  2. PhD Program in Biotechnology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India

    V. S. Jayalekshmi

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Jayalekshmi, V.S., Ramachandran, S. Maternal cholesterol levels during gestation: boon or bane for the offspring?. Mol Cell Biochem 476, 401–416 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-020-03916-2

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Keywords

  • Maternal hypercholesterolemia
  • Placenta
  • Fetal programming
  • Atherosclerosis