ArticleFrontiers in genetics2026
Causal effects of maternal BMI on pregnancy outcomes: a Mendelian randomisation study investigating the mediating role of blood counts.
Article in Frontiers in genetics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Pregnancy requires a delicate balance between the maternal immune system and inflammatory responses. Elevated maternal body mass index (BMI) significantly compromises the immune system and increases systemic inflammation. High maternal BMI is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including an increased risk of both pre-eclampsia and preterm birth, which may be mediated through immune-related blood cell changes. Methods: This study used Mendelian randomisation (MR) to investigate the causal relationship between maternal BMI and pregnancy outcomes, including birth weight, placental weight, gestational duration, and pre-eclampsia. We applied two-step MR to assess whether immune-related blood counts, such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets, mediate these relationships. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) effect estimates for maternal BMI and pregnancy outcomes were sourced from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWASs), with pregnancy outcomes partitioned into maternal genetic effects to proxy genetic effects on the intrauterine environment. Results: We found that elevated maternal BMI causally increased placental weight (β Conclusion: Maternal BMI has a significant impact on pregnancy outcomes, particularly by increasing placental weight and the risk of pre-eclampsia. These findings highlight BMI-driven placental adaptations as key contributors to pregnancy complications.
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