University of Coimbra identifies the impact of gestational diabetes and obesity on babies' hearts

A study by the University of Coimbra explores the impact of gestational diabetes and maternal obesity on the heart health of newborns. It highlights the increasing prevalence of obesity in reproductive age and gestational diabetes affecting about 15% of pregnancies globally. The research, led by the Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, aims to identify early signs of cardiovascular disease risk in infants. Analyzing umbilical cord blood from 82 newborns, researchers found a 26% increase in cardiac stress marker NT-proBNP in cases with maternal obesity. This suggests a link between maternal metabolism and fetal heart adaptation, potentially aiding future personalized prevention strategies for cardiovascular diseases.