Applied nutritional investigationFactors associated with maternal serum C-reactive protein throughout pregnancy: A longitudinal study in women of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

•This study demonstrated that serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations increased throughout pregnancy.•Parity and prepregnancy body mass index were positively associated with CRP concentrations.•Dietary glycemic load was negatively associated with CRP concentrations.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal changes of C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations during pregnancy and to assess whether socioeconomic, anthropometric, dietary, behavioral, and biochemical factors are associated with these changes.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of 115 adult pregnant women, followed at gestational weeks 5 to 13, 20 to 26, and 30 to 36. Serum concentrations of CRP (mg/L) were measured by the immunoturbidimetric method with ultrasensitive kits (sensitivity 0.05 mg/dL). The statistics included descriptive analysis (mean + SD) and longitudinal linear mixed-effects models, reporting the β coefficient and 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsSerum CRP concentrations progressively increased throughout pregnancy (β = 0.121; 95% CI, 0.071-0.171). Parity (β = 1.579; 95% CI, 0.731-2.427) and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.316; 95% CI, 0.053-0.587) were positively associated and dietary glycemic load was negatively associated (β = −0.203; 95% CI, −0.380 to −0.026) with CRP concentrations in the multiple model. Prepregnancy obese women presented a more pronounced increase of CRP concentrations compared with normal weight women (β = 0.210; 95% CI, 0.059-0.360 versus 0.115, respectively; 95% CI, 0.049-0.181). A statistically significant interaction was observed between parity and gestational age (β = −0.045; 95% CI, −0.084 to −0.005), indicating that the variation of CRP throughout pregnancy differed according to parity categories.ConclusionCRP concentrations increased throughout pregnancy. Parity and prepregnancy BMI were positively associated and dietary glycemic load was negatively associated with concentrations of CRP.