Maternal lipid levels in pregnant women without complications in developing risk of large for gestational age newborns: a study of meta-analysis [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: Circulating into foetal circulation across the placental barrier, abnormal maternal serum lipids predispose neonates to metabolic dysfunction and thereafter affect the steroid metabolism and functions of extra-embryonic foetal tissues. Methods: A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed–MEDLINE and the Cochrane library between January 2010 and January 2020. The included studies were English case controlstudies that described original data on at least one raw lipid measurement during pregnancy in healthy women who deliveredlarge for gestational age (LGA) newborns and in healthy women with non-LGA newborns. The data extracted from 12 studies were pooled, and the weighted mean difference (WMD) in lipid levels was calculated using random effects models. A meta-analysis was performed to identify sources of heterogeneity and to describe the significant value of the collected studies. Results: Of 649 published articles identified, a total of 12 met the inclusion criteria. Compared with women who had non-LGA newborns, those who had LGA newborns had significantly higher triglyceride (TG) levels (WMD = 0.28, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.54) and lower high density lipoprotein cholestrol (HDL-C) levels (WMD = 0.08, 95% CI−0.13 to −0.03), but not have significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Moreover, the levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) were inconsistent between both groups.