No strong evidence of the protein leverage hypothesis in pregnant women with obesity and their infants
Authors' conclusion
Low protein intake may have been present before pregnancy, explaining early relationships with adiposity in this cohort. The protein leverage hypothesis is likely not implicated in the intergenerational transmission of obesity.
Study context
- Population
- Pregnant women with obesity; mean (SD) age 27.5 (4.8) years, pregravid BMI 34.4 (2.9) kg/m², 56.1% non-White
- Participants
- 41 women
- Outcome
- Association of early-pregnancy protein balance (protein intake/Estimated Average Requirements (EAR)) with energy intake, gestational weight gain, maternal fat mass and infant adiposity
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Protein balance vs energy intake, mid pregnancy: β (NS)
- β = 328.7, p = 0.30
- Protein balance vs energy intake, mid/late pregnancy: β (NS)
- β = 286.2, p = 0.26
- Protein balance vs gestational weight gain: β (NS)
- β = 117.0, p = 0.41
- Protein balance inversely associated with fat mass, early pregnancy
- β = −10.6, p = 0.01
- Protein balance inversely associated with fat mass, mid pregnancy
- β = −10.4, p = 0.03
- Protein balance inversely associated with fat mass, late pregnancy
- β = −10.3, p = 0.03
- Protein balance did not predict infant adiposity at birth
- p > 0.05
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
No strong evidence of the protein leverage hypothesis in pregnant women with obesity and their infants. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 30 June 2023. doi:10.
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