# The metabolic implications of maternal exercise: effects on pregnant women and their offspring **Authors:** Zhenglin He, Yutong Yuan, Lingkai Zhang, Wentong Niu, Liyu Liu, Baoer Chen, Xue Wang PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1741714 · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2026-02-19 ## TL;DR This paper reviews how maternal exercise affects the metabolic health of pregnant women and their offspring. ## Contribution The paper provides a comprehensive review of the metabolic benefits of maternal exercise during pregnancy. ## Key findings - Maternal exercise is linked to improved metabolic health in pregnant women. - Exercise during pregnancy can positively influence the metabolic health of offspring. - The review highlights mechanisms through which maternal exercise reduces metabolic complications. ## Abstract Metabolic health is increasingly recognized as a vital issue in global health, particularly with respect to pregnant women. This population is uniquely vulnerable to metabolic disorders, such as gestational diabetes, due to lifestyle modifications and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. Additionally, the metabolic state of pregnant women significantly impacts the metabolic health of offspring. To enhance metabolic health, proper exercise is essential. This review examines the effects of maternal exercise on the metabolic health of pregnant women and their children, highlighting the evidence linking maternal exercise to various metabolic complications and the mechanisms that underpin its benefits. ## Linked entities - **Diseases:** gestational diabetes (MONDO:0005406) ## Full-text entities - **Genes:** TIMP2 (TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 2) [NCBI Gene 7077] {aka CSC-21K, DDC8}, SLC27A4 (solute carrier family 27 member 4) [NCBI Gene 10999] {aka ACSVL4, FATP4, IPS}, CXCL8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8) [NCBI Gene 3576] {aka GCP-1, GCP1, IL8, LECT, LUCT, LYNAP}, LGALS1 (galectin 1) [NCBI Gene 3956] {aka GAL1, GBP}, Wdr82 (WD repeat domain containing 82) [NCBI Gene 77305] {aka 9430077D24Rik, CDW5/WDR82}, LPL (lipoprotein lipase) [NCBI Gene 4023] {aka HDLCQ11, LIPD}, PPARGC1A (PPARG coactivator 1 alpha) [NCBI Gene 10891] {aka LEM6, PGC-1(alpha), PGC-1alpha, PGC-1v, PGC1, PGC1A}, CS (citrate synthase) [NCBI Gene 1431], INSR (insulin receptor) [NCBI Gene 3643] {aka CD220, HHF5}, SLC38A1 (solute carrier family 38 member 1) [NCBI Gene 81539] {aka ATA1, NAT2, SAT1, SNAT1}, TBC1D4 (TBC1 domain family member 4) [NCBI Gene 9882] {aka AS160, NIDDM5}, TBC1D1 (TBC1 domain family member 1) [NCBI Gene 23216] {aka TBC, TBC1}, NR3C1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1) [NCBI Gene 2908] {aka GCCR, GCR, GCRST, GR, GRL}, Idh1 (isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (NADP+), soluble) [NCBI Gene 15926] {aka E030024J03Rik, Id-1, Idh-1, Idpc}, PPARD (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor delta) [NCBI Gene 5467] {aka FAAR, NR1C2, NUC1, NUCI, NUCII, PPARB}, APLN (apelin) [NCBI Gene 8862] {aka APEL, XNPEP2}, Myf5 (myogenic factor 5) [NCBI Gene 17877] {aka B130010J22Rik, Myf-5, bHLHc2}, ADIPOQ (adiponectin, C1Q and collagen domain containing) [NCBI Gene 9370] {aka ACDC, ACRP30, ADIPQTL1, ADPN, APM-1, APM1}, SIRT1 (sirtuin 1) [NCBI Gene 23411] {aka SIR2, SIR2L1, SIR2alpha}, AKT1 (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 207] {aka AKT, PKB, PKB-ALPHA, PRKBA, RAC, RAC-ALPHA}, Sod3 (superoxide dismutase 3, extracellular) [NCBI Gene 20657] {aka EC-SOD}, Fgf1 (fibroblast growth factor 1) [NCBI Gene 14164] {aka Dffrx, Fam, Fgf-1, Fgf2b, Fgfa}, SERPINA3 (serpin family A member 3) [NCBI Gene 12] {aka AACT, ACT, GIG24, GIG25}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, IL10 (interleukin 10) [NCBI Gene 3586] {aka CSIF, GVHDS, IL-10, IL10A, TGIF}, HSPA4 (heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 4) [NCBI Gene 3308] {aka APG-2, HEL-S-5a, HS24/P52, HSPH2, RY, hsp70}, GCLM (glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit) [NCBI Gene 2730] {aka GLCLR}, Pax3 (paired box 3) [NCBI Gene 18505] {aka Pax-3, Sp, Splchl2, splotch}, KLF4 (KLF transcription factor 4) [NCBI Gene 9314] {aka EZF, GKLF}, CLINT1 (clathrin interactor 1) [NCBI Gene 9685] {aka CLINT, ENTH, EPN4, EPNR}, INS (insulin) [NCBI Gene 3630] {aka IDDM, IDDM1, IDDM2, ILPR, IRDN, MODY10}, IL1B (interleukin 1 beta) [NCBI Gene 3553] {aka IL-1, IL1-BETA, IL1F2, IL1beta}, FNDC5 (fibronectin type III domain containing 5) [NCBI Gene 252995] {aka FRCP2, irisin}, Igf1r (insulin-like growth factor I receptor) [NCBI Gene 16001] {aka A330103N21Rik, CD221, D930020L01, IGF-1R, hyft}, PRL (prolactin) [NCBI Gene 5617] {aka GHA1, pPRL}, SLC2A1 (solute carrier family 2 member 1) [NCBI Gene 6513] {aka CSE, DYT17, DYT18, DYT9, EIG12, GLUT}, Apln (apelin) [NCBI Gene 30878] {aka 6030430G11Rik, Apel}, PRKAA2 (protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 2) [NCBI Gene 5563] {aka AMPK, AMPK2, AMPKa2, PRKAA}, Myod1 (myogenic differentiation 1) [NCBI Gene 17927] {aka MYF3, MyoD, Myod-1, bHLHc1}, Thra (thyroid hormone receptor alpha) [NCBI Gene 21833] {aka 6430529J03Rik, Erba, Nr1a1, Rvr, T3R[a], T3Ralpha}, LEP (leptin) [NCBI Gene 3952] {aka LEPD, OB, OBS}, Vdr (vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) receptor) [NCBI Gene 22337] {aka Nr1i1}, IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, Snx7 (sorting nexin 7) [NCBI Gene 76561] {aka 2510028H01Rik}, SLC2A3 (solute carrier family 2 member 3) [NCBI Gene 6515] {aka GLUT3}, Igf1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) [NCBI Gene 16000] {aka C730016P09Rik, Igf-1, Igf-I}, MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase) [NCBI Gene 2475] {aka FRAP, FRAP1, FRAP2, RAFT1, RAPT1, SKS}, CSH2 (chorionic somatomammotropin hormone 2) [NCBI Gene 1443] {aka CS-2, CSB, GHB1, PL, hCS-B}, Pax7 (paired box 7) [NCBI Gene 18509] {aka Pax-7}, MIR122 (microRNA 122) [NCBI Gene 406906] {aka MIR122A, MIRN122, MIRN122A, hsa-mir-122, miRNA122, miRNA122A}, Prl (prolactin) [NCBI Gene 19109] {aka Gha1, Prl1a1}, Fgfr2 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 2) [NCBI Gene 14183] {aka Bek, Fgfr-2, Fgfr-7, Fgfr2b, Fgfr7, KGFR}, SLC2A4 (solute carrier family 2 member 4) [NCBI Gene 6517] {aka GLUT4}, Mir27a (microRNA 27a) [NCBI Gene 387220] {aka Mirn27a, mir-27a, mmu-mir-27a}, MARCHF8 (membrane associated ring-CH-type finger 8) [NCBI Gene 220972] {aka CMIR, MARCH-VIII, MARCH8, MIR, RNF178, c-MIR} - **Diseases:** obese (MESH:D009765), GDM (MESH:D016640), weight gain (MESH:D015430), vitamin D deficiency (MESH:D014808), overweight (MESH:D050177), maternal hyperphagia (MESH:D006963), respiratory distress (MESH:D012128), Metabolic (MESH:D008659), fetal growth restriction (MESH:D005317), metabolic disturbances (MESH:D024821), childbirth complications (MESH:D008107), adipose inflammation (MESH:D007249), mitochondrial dysfunction (MESH:D028361), dyslipidemia (MESH:D050171), cyanosis (MESH:D003490), fetal macrosomia (MESH:D005320), diabetes (MESH:D003920), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (MESH:D065626), overnutrition (MESH:D044343), Maternal glucose metabolism and glucose metabolism disorders (MESH:D044882), anxiety (MESH:D001007), asthma (MESH:D001249), preeclampsia (MESH:D011225), adiposity (MESH:D018205), miscarriage (MESH:D000022), gestational weight gain (MESH:D000078064), T2DM (MESH:D003924), vaginal (MESH:D014627), postpartum hemorrhage (MESH:D006473), beta-cell dysfunction (MESH:D007340), cardiac remodeling (MESH:D020257), cardiac hypertrophy (MESH:D006332), AE (MESH:D000092202), glucose dysregulation (MESH:D018149), infectious diseases (MESH:D003141), pregnancy (MESH:D011254), meconium aspiration (MESH:D008471), placental insufficiency (MESH:D010927), lipid metabolism and (MESH:D052439), hyperinsulinemia (MESH:D006946), hypertension (MESH:D006973), GH (MESH:D046110), cardiovascular disease (MESH:D002318), premature birth (MESH:D047928), increased cardiac output (MESH:D016534), insulin resistance (MESH:D007333) - **Chemicals:** glycogen (MESH:D006003), FFA (MESH:D005230), progesterone (MESH:D011374), blood glucose (MESH:D001786), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), Vitamin D (MESH:D014807), pyruvate (MESH:D019289), fat (MESH:D005223), sugar (MESH:D000073893), nitrogen (MESH:D009584), cortisol (MESH:D006854), glucose-6-phosphate (MESH:D019298), kynurenic acid (MESH:D007736), lactate (MESH:D019344), 3'-SL (MESH:C421467), TG (MESH:D014280), lipid (MESH:D008055), sucrose (MESH:D013395), calcium (MESH:D002118), 1,25(OH)2D (MESH:C097949), glucose (MESH:D005947), Fatty (-), alpha-ketoglutarate (MESH:D007656), amino acid (MESH:D000596), FA (MESH:D005227), carbohydrate (MESH:D002241) - **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606] ## Full text _Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12960139/full.md ## Figures 3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12960139/full.md ## References 144 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12960139/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12960139