Maternal obesity leads to long-term altered levels of plasma ceramides in the offspring as revealed by a longitudinal lipidomic study in children.

Background/objectives: Maternal obesity is associated with increased risk of obesity and other symptoms of the metabolic syndrome in the offspring. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms and cellular factors underlying this enhanced disease susceptibility remain to be determined. Here, we aimed at identifying changes in plasma lipids in offspring of obese mothers that might underpin, and serve as early biomarkers of, their enhanced metabolic disease risk.