The relationship between MMP9 and ADRA2A gene polymorphisms and mothers–newborns’ nutritional status: an exploratory path model (STROBE compliant article)

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the direct effects of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP9 rs17577, MMP9 rs17576) and alfa 2 adrenergic receptor (ADRA2A rs553668) gene polymorphisms investigated in mothers and their newborns on maternal weight gain (MWG) during pregnancy and the newborn’s birth weight (BW), taking into account the presence of other related factors. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in 197 mother–newborn pairs in an Obstetrics Gynecology Clinic, in order to evaluate the demographic and anthropometric parameters, and gene polymorphism. RESULTS: BW was positively correlated with maternal age (p = 0.021) and the educational level (p = 0.002), and negatively correlated with smoking status in pregnant women (p < 0.001). The MMP9 rs17577 variant genotypes in mothers led to a lower BW (p = 0.049). The mothers with a variant genotype of ADRA2A rs553668 gene polymorphism had newborns with a higher BW (p = 0.030). MWG and gestational age (GesAge) influenced BW (p < 0.05). We noticed that newborns’ variant genotype of MMP9 rs17577 was related to a significant increase in BW (p = 0.010), while the newborns who carried the variant genotype of MMP9 rs17576 expressed a negative correlation, decreasing the BW (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the role of MMP9 rs17577, MMP9 rs17576, and ADRA2A rs553668 SNPs in BW determinism.