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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Little Rock, Arkansas » Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit » Microbiome and Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #435915
Research Project: Early Life Factors and Microbiota Impact on Healthy Development

Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research

Title: Circulating short- and medium-chain fatty acids in pregnancy and associations with maternal and infant metabolism, inflammation, and body composition

Author
item KEBBE, MARYAM - University Of New Brunswick
item LAN, RENNY - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item PACK, LINDSAY - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item SIMS, CLARK - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item REDMAN, LEANNE - Pennington Biomedical Research Center
item ANDRES, ALINE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2026
Publication Date: 2/13/2026
Citation: Kebbe, M., Lan, R., Pack, L., Sims, C., Redman, L.M., Andres, A. 2026. Circulating short- and medium-chain fatty acids in pregnancy and associations with maternal and infant metabolism, inflammation, and body composition. Scientific Reports. 16:Article 9001. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39010-8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39010-8

Interpretive Summary: A mother’s metabolism and inflammation during pregnancy are important for her health and may influence her baby’s development, but the role of certain fatty acids produced from diet and gut bacteria is not well understood. In this study, higher levels of specific fatty acids in late pregnancy were linked to healthier metabolic and inflammatory profiles in mothers and differences in how their bodies used energy. However, these fatty acids showed little impact on infant growth in early life. These findings suggest that targeting these fatty acids during pregnancy could help improve maternal health, an important step toward supporting long-term health for both mothers and children.

Technical Abstract: Short- and medium-chain fatty acids (SCFAs/MCFAs) modulate metabolic and inflammatory pathways. This study examined associations between maternal plasma SCFAs/MCFAs in the first (T1) and third (T3) trimesters and maternal and infant metabolic–inflammatory indices, maternal energy metabolism, and infant anthropometrics and body composition at 2 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Data were retrieved from the Growing Life, Optimizing Wellness Study. SCFAs/MCFAs were derivatized with 3-NPH and quantified by LC–MS in Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry with elevated energy mode., while metabolic–inflammatory indices were computed from standardized biomarkers (e.g., cholesterol, insulin, leptin). Sample sizes included up to 231 participants at T1, 156 at T3, 80 infants at 2 weeks, and 55 at 6 months. Generalized linear models adjusted for covariates and multiple comparisons. At T3, higher butyric, caproic, propionic, isobutyric, and isovaleric acids were linked to a lower maternal metabolic–inflammatory index, whereas higher acetate-to-propionate, acetate-to-butyrate, and propionate-to-butyrate ratios were linked to a higher index. Maternal acetic acid and total SCFA/MCFA concentrations were inversely associated with respiratory exchange ratio at T1 and T3. Limited associations were observed with infant indices or body composition. Overall, third-trimester SCFAs were associated with maternal metabolic–inflammatory pathways with minimal downstream infant effects.