12.7 Pregnancy Flashcards
True or false: metabolic changes during pregnancy are static to create a stable environment for the baby
- False
- Metabolism changes as pregnancy progresses
Describe the shift in type of metabolism between early and late pregnancy
Early: Anabolic
Late: Catabolic
Describe metabolic changes during early pregnancy
Increased insulin production, and increased/normal insulin sensitivity of adipocytes, leading to energy storage
Describe metabolic changes during late pregnancy
Elevated insulin, insulin resistance, lipolysis, hepatic glucose production, all of which maintain foetal glucose supply.
How do beta cells increase in mass during pregnancy? What does this allow?
- Proliferation
- Development from precursor cell
- This allows increased insulin secretion from early pregnancy
Describe adaptations in a woman’s glucose metabolism in late pregnancy
- ~2-fold increase in insulin
- Insulin sensitivity decreases by 50-70%
- Basal gluconeogenesis increases by 16-30%
Why does gestational diabetes not occur in late pregnancy every time?
- Insulin increase is counteracted by decrease in insulin sensitivity, glucose remains within normal range
Describe changes in circulating triglyceride levels in a woman during pregnancy
First 8 weeks: steady/low
Then: Increase
How does changes in glucose metabolism influence lipolysis in late pregnancy>
- Insulin resistance increases
- Fats need to be used as an alternate energy source
- Lipolysis increase
- Increase circulating fatty acids and glycerol for maternal energy and feto-placental supply
How do changes in lipid metabolism in late pregnancy influence glucose and amino acid availability
Increase supply for foetus
What happens to circulating cholesterol levels during pregnancy? Why?
- Increase
- Used by placenta for steroid hormone synthesis
Does a pregnant woman take a longer or shorter time to switch to fat metabolism upon fasting? What does this release?
- Less time
- Releases ketones for foetal energy
