Newborn metabolomic profile mirrors that of mother in pregnancy

Background: Pregnancy is characterized by multiple metabolic processes to allow proper foetal development and ensure adequate stores. Little is known about the interactions between maternal and foetal metabolism during the last phase of pregnancy. Metabolomic offers potential to discover changes in maternal metabolism in pregnancy and their relation to the newborn metabolic status. Objective: In this study we tested the hypothesis that metabolomic status in newborns at birth depends upon the metabolomic profile of their mothers in the last phase of pregnancy. Study design: Urine samples were collected from 36 pregnant women three weeks before delivery and from 21 healthy term newborns within 48 h after birth. Urines were analysed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy and NMR urine spectra were evaluated through Principal Components Analysis. Results: The first component of the PCA analysis showed two distinct metabolic groups: pregnant women and newborns. A significant correlation was found between urine metabolic profiles of newborns and those of their mothers. Conclusion: Urine metabolomic profiles of newborns at birth mirrors that of their mothers in the last phase of pregnancy. The metabolomic approach appears to be crucial to understand the maternal effects on foetal programming and infant outcomes.