How high cholesterol in pregnant women affects their children's liver health
Official title: Epigenetic Mechanisms in Developmental Programming of Hepatic Lipid Dysfunction by Maternal Hypercholesterolemia
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-10808606 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how high cholesterol in pregnant women might affect their children's liver health and is exploring safe plant-based ways to help lower cholesterol during pregnancy, so that kids can have a better chance of staying healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | July 23, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $161,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD104742-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10808606 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women with elevated cholesterol levels and their children.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not have a history of high cholesterol may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of high cholesterol levels in pregnant women on the liver health of their children. It focuses on understanding how excessive cholesterol exposure during pregnancy can lead to changes in the liver's epigenome, potentially increasing the risk of conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in offspring. The study aims to explore safe plant-based treatments to lower cholesterol in pregnant women, addressing a significant gap in current treatment options. By examining these mechanisms, the research seeks to provide insights that could improve health outcomes for children born to mothers with high cholesterol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management of cholesterol levels in pregnant women, reducing the risk of liver-related health issues in their children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing maternal health conditions can significantly impact offspring health, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rideout, Todd — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Rideout, Todd
Related research
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A program to help people who donate blood and have familial hypercholesterolemia get the cholesterol-lowering treatment they need through a blood-donation center.
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Helping families find and treat inherited high cholesterol
This project tests a clinic-based program to help primary care doctors find and treat children and adults with inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia).
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Familial hypercholesterolemia: closing gaps in prevention of heart disease
A new NIH grant is exploring why people with familial hypercholesterolemia often go undiagnosed or receive uneven care, with the goal of improving early detection and prevention of heart disease.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.