Prospective multicentre Italian pregnancy cohort study (SIMPLE) on the associations of maternal first trimester SIMPLE nutritional score with early placental function markers and pregnancy outcomes. Issue 10 (26th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parisi, Francesca; Coco, Chiara; Cetin, Irene
• Other Names: author non-byline.; Savasi V author non-byline.; Vignali M author non-byline.; Di Simone N author non-byline.; Petraglia F author non-byline.; Di Renzo G author non-byline.; Benedetto C author non-byline.; Facchinetti F author non-byline.; D'Anna R author non-byline.; Spinillo A author non-byline.; Greco P author non-byline.; Simoncini T author non-byline.; Lanzone A author non-byline.; Nappi L author non-byline.; Franchi M author non-byline.; Cicinelli E author non-byline.; Colacurci N author non-byline.; Zullo F author non-byline.; Angioni S author non-byline.; Guerriero S author non-byline.; Guido M author non-byline.
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 12:Issue 10(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10-26
• Subjects: Maternal medicine -- Ultrasonography -- Prenatal diagnosis; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062940
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Currently, the adherence to nutritional guidelines is low, with alarming rates of obesity worldwide and micronutrient deficiencies documented even in industrialised countries. As a consequence, nutritional screening and counselling represent a critical subject in early pregnancy, aiming to improve pregnancy outcomes and population health. Methods and analysis: In this setting, the development of a simple and reproducible nutritional checklist is of utmost importance. The Simple Study is a longitudinal prospective multicentre study aiming to identify the associations between maternal nutritional habits in the first trimester, early markers of placental function and pregnancy outcomes on a large population of singleton pregnancies in Italy. Ongoing healthy singleton pregnancies will be enrolled at the ultrasound scan of the first trimester combined screening test (11 +0 –13 +6 gestational weeks). A nutritional score measuring the adherence to a healthy diet and nutritional deficiencies will be collected at recruitment. Fetal (crown-rump length, nuchal translucency (NT), biparietal diameter, femur length) and utero placental (placental volume, uterine arteries Doppler velocimetry) ultrasound data and biochemical placental markers (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, free ß-human chorionic gonadotropin) will be collected. Second and third trimester ultrasound records and birth outcomes will be recorded from medical registers. This study will set the stage for introducing a reproducible, time-saving and low-cost nutritional screening in pregnancy. The nutritional score will allow the implementation of specific corrective measures with potential large impact on placentation and pregnancy outcomes. Ethical and dissemination: Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Milano Area 1 Ethics Committee (No 46091, 7 November 2018) prior to the commencement of the research. The dissemination plan includes the presentation of abstracts and findings at national and international scientific meetings.