The Impact of Maternal Overweight on Hair Essential Trace Element and Mineral Content in Pregnant Women and Their Children

The aim of the present study was to investigate hair essential trace elements and mineral levels in 105 pregnant normal-weight (control) and 55 overweight and obese women in the third trimester of pregnancy, as well as in their children at the age of 9 months. The hair essential trace elements and mineral levels were assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. Overweight pregnant women had significantly reduced Cr (- 24%; p = 0.047) and Zn (- 13%; p = 0.008) content, as well as elevated hair Na and K levels as compared to the controls. Children from overweight and obese mothers had lower hair Mo (- 18%; p = 0.017), Se (- 8%; p = 0.043), and V (- 24%; p = 0.028) levels, as well as elevated Sr content (19%; p = 0.025). Correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between maternal and child hair levels of Co (r = 0.170; p = 0.038), Cu (r = 0.513; p < 0.001), Mn (r = 0.240; p = 0.003), and Na (r = 0.181; p = 0.027) in the whole sample. Pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) positively correlated with maternal hair K (r = 0.336; p < 0.001) and Na (r = 0.212; p = 0.008) and negatively correlated with V (r = - 0.204; p = 0.011) and Zn (r = - 0.162; p = 0.045) levels. The results indicate that impaired trace element and mineral metabolism may play a role in the link between maternal obesity, complications of pregnancy and child's postnatal development. Hypothetically, dietary improvement may be used as a tool to reduce these risks. However, further experimental and clinical studies are required to investigate the relationship between obesity and trace element metabolism in pregnancy

Spouses’ Psychological States and Family Relations in Families with Natural and Induced Pregnancies

Background. Psychological tension in the family, along with stress and mental and physical illness,are linked tothe reproductive health of parents, as well as to the outcomes of infertility treatments and pregnancy overall. Objective. To compare stress and negative affect (depression, irritability, and anxiety) in families with induced pregnancies (in-vitro fertilization, IFV) vs. natural pregnancies. The relationship between negative affect and stress in pregnant women was explored in both groups. Finally, the study investigated links between negative affect and partner relationships. Design.The sample included 308 women and 278 men from couples with natural conception, and 131 women and 102 men from couples with an IVF pregnancy. Results. Relatively low levels of negative affective states and stress were found in families with both natural and induced pregnancies. Moderate correlations were found between women’s negative affect and their stress level in both groups. Significant correlations were found in both groups between negative psychological states of the spouses, as well as between negative psychological states and warmth/hostility in marital relations. Conclusion. The results suggest that psychological states, stress levels, and links between psychological states and quality of family relations are similar in families with IVF and those with natural pregnancies. Further longitudinal research is needed to explore the direction of causal links between the psychological states of the spouses, and between their psychological states and the quality of family relations

Toxicological and nutritional status of trace elements in hair of women with in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy and their 9-month-old children

The objective of the present study was to assess toxic and nutritional trace element and mineral status in hair of women with IVF pregnancy and their children. Inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry was used to as-sess hair trace element levels of 50 women with IVF pregnancy and 158 controls with spontaneous pregnancy and their children. Women with IVF pregnancy were characterized by significantly elevated hair As, Hg, Li, K, Na, and reduced Fe, Si, and Zn contents. Children from IVF pregnancy had significantly lower values of hair Cr, Fe, Mg, Sr, and Al content when compared to the control values, whereas hair Hg and Mo levels were higher. Hair trace element levels were associated with pregnancy complications and infertility, but not newborn characteristics. The results suggest the need for preconceptional monitoring and correction of the levels of toxic and essential elements in women in order to improve the course pregnancy and child development

Диагностированные проблемы со здоровьем, самооценка состояния здоровья и привязанность к плоду у беременных женщин с естественным зачатием и с беременностью посредством ЭКО

The study is aimed to explore health and attachment to fetus in pregnant women with natural conception (NC) vs. in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Hypotheses. (1) There are average differences in diagnosed health problems between women with IVF pregnancy and women with NC pregnancy; (2) There are average differences in perceived health between women with IVF pregnancy and women with NC pregnancy; (3) There is a moderate association between diagnosed health problems and perceived health; (4) Women with IVF pregnancy on average report greater attachment to fetus than women with NC pregnancy; (5) Diagnosed health problems are negatively related to attachment to the fetus; and this link is partially mediated by perceived health. Methods. The study was a part of an ongoing prospective lon-gitudinal project in Russia, with the sample including 244 women with NC and 105 women with IVF pregnancy. Data were collected from medical records and questionnaires completed during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. The measures included perceived health; a detailed measure of reproductive and general health; and a comprehensive measure of attachment to the fetus. Pregnant women completed the questionnaires during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. In total, 46 questions were related to different health problems. In addition, medical information was obtained from antenatal records stored in the databases of partner clinics. On the bases of combined questionnaire and medical records data, 2 general health indexes were created: Reproductive Health Index (RHI – a measure of reproductive health), Physical Health Index (PHI – a measure of physical health, excluding reproductive). Statistical data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics 22 software package (descriptive statistics, Chi square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman nonparametric corre-lation criterion, multiple regression analysis). Data were checked for normal distribution using Kolmogorov-Smirnov criterion. Conclusion. Despite the poorer state of health in terms of reproductive and some somatic indicators, the self-rated health of women with induced preg-nancy was not worse than perceived health of women whose pregnancy occurred naturally. Attachment to the fetus was slightly greater for women in the IVF group than in the NC group. Diagnosed and perceived heath was not significantly related to attachment to the fetus

Типологические варианты развития детей, рожденных с помощью вспомогательных репродуктивных технологий, и характеристики их семейной среды

Introduction. Due to the increased number of children born as a result of assisted reproductive technology (ART), there are contradictory data on their health and development. This underlines the need to identify the developmental trajectories of these children and the system of factors that contribute to them, specific for each developmental stage. Aim: To identify the variants of physical and psychological development of children born after ART, as well as the characteristics of their family environment during the early preschool age. Methods. The participants were 220 families (mothers, fathers and 4-year-old children): 80 families with induced conception (ART), 130 families with natural (spontaneous) conception (NC). Methods were based on the questionnaires used in TEDS and QLSCD, translated into Russian: Parent-Administered and Parent-Reported PARCA; short version of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory; assessment of preschool children’s behaviour BEH; «Your Child at Home»; «Your Child’s Health»; «Scale of Lack of Money for Essentials»; short version of the «Household Food Security Scale»; «Job Satisfaction»; assessment of stress and fatigue; assessment of anxiety; assessment of the relationship with the child»; short version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Results. In ART and NC families 3 developmental variants were identified: «Balanced» (ART: 33%, NC: 41%), «Risk of imbalance» (ART: 42%, NC: 19%), «Risk of developmental and behavioural problems» (ART: 24%, NC: 40%). For ART group, these variants were different only in mothers’ relationship with the child, for the NC group – in all types of family characteristics. Discussion. In NC families most aspects of family functioning are related to children’s behaviour and development, in ART families – only maternal attitude to the child. The results underline the need for individual psychological support and correction.&nbsp;Введение. В связи с ростом числа детей, рожденных в результате вспомогательных репродуктивных технологий (ВРТ), появляются противоречивые данные об их здоровье и развитии, что подчеркивает необходимость выявления траекторий развития этих детей и системы обусловливающих их факторов, специфичных для каждого возрастного этапа. Цель: выявление специфики вариантов физического и психического развития детей, зачатых с помощью ВРТ, и характеристик их семейной среды в раннем дошкольном возрасте. Методы. Выборка: 220 семей (мать, отец и ребенок в возрасте 4-х лет), из них: 80 семей, зачавших ребенка посредством ВРТ, и 130 семей с естественным зачатием (ЕЗ). Методики основаны на инструментах, используемых в исследованиях TEDS и QLSCD, в переводе на русский язык: методика для оценки родителями способностей ребенка (PARCA); сокращенная версия Мак-Артуровского опросника речевого развития; методика оценки поведения дошкольника BEH; «Ваш ребенок дома»; «Здоровье Вашего ребенка»; «Недостаток денежных средств для оплаты необходимых расходов»; сокращенная версия «Household Food Security Scale»; «Удовлетворенность работой»; «Оценка уровня стресса и усталости»; «Ваше самочувствие»; «Ваши взаимоотношения с ребенком»; сокращенная версия Шкалы супружеской согласованности (Dyadic Adjustment Scale). Результаты. В семьях с ВРТ и ЕЗ было выделено по 3 варианта развития детей: «Сбалансированный» (ВРТ: 33%, ЕЗ: 41%), «Риск дисбаланса» (ВРТ: 42%, ЕЗ: 19%), «Риск нарушений развития и поведения» (ВРТ: 24%, ЕЗ: 40%). Варианты развития детей, зачатых посредством ВРТ, различались только особенностями отношения матери к ребенку; детей, зачатых посредством ЕЗ – всеми изученными группами показателей. Обсуждение и выводы. В семьях ЕЗ с поведением и развитием детей связано большинство аспектов семейной среды, в семьях ВРТ – поведение матери по отношению к ребенку. Результаты подчеркивают необходимость индивидуализации психологического сопровождения и психокоррекционных интервенций