Česky
The study, which was published in the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, also reported that up to 60% of pregnant women in the United States alone are obese. A total of 39 mothers and their babies were examined for the said study. For all of them, the so-called body mass index (BMI) was calculated from body weight and height and then the mothers were classified into 3 groups - lean, overweight or obese. Overweight was defined as a BMI of 25-29.9 and obesity as a BMI of 30 or more.
Of the total, 11 moms were thin, 14 were overweight and 14 were obese after stratification. All women were non-smokers and had no pregnancy complications. Cord blood samples were then collected as part of the study.
Compared to lean mothers, the children of obese mothers were found to have a much lower response of specific immune cells such as monocytes and dendritic cells to bacterial antigens. At the same time, lower CD4 T-lymphocyte counts were observed. And all these changes can then result in a reduced response to infection or vaccination. And one more finding was notable - lower levels of eosinophils, cells involved in the allergic response or the development of asthma, were found in the cord blood of children of obese mothers.
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
