Associations between prenatal distress, mitochondrial health, and gestational age: findings from two pregnancy studies in the USA and Turkey.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study examined associations between mitochondrial markers-circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) and Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF15)-with maternal distress and pregnancy outcomes.

Method

Participants were drawn from two pregnancy studies, EPI (N=187, USA) and BABIP (N=198, Turkey). Plasma cf-mtDNA and GDF15 levels were quantified using qPCR and ELISA assays.

Results

Plasma cf-mtDNA levels did not significantly vary across pregnancy, while plasma GDF15 levels increased from early to late pregnancy and decreased postpartum. Late 2nd trimester plasma GDF15 was negatively correlated with pre-pregnancy BMI (p=0.035) and gestational age (p=0.0048) at birth. Early 2nd trimester maternal distress was associated with lower cf-mtDNA (p<0.05)

SUBMITTER: Huang Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11507865 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature