Gestational hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in Vietnam: Prevalence, dietary correlates, and neonatal outcomes

Lieu Nguyen; Phuong Anh Bui; Phuong Thao Nguyen; Ngoc Anh Dang; Le Thi Phuong Mai; Huy Duc Do

doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2026.106605

Gestational hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in Vietnam: Prevalence, dietary correlates, and neonatal outcomes

Early Hum Dev. 2026 Jun 8:221:106605. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2026.106605. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Lieu Nguyen¹, Phuong Anh Bui², Phuong Thao Nguyen³, Ngoc Anh Dang⁴, Le Thi Phuong Mai⁵, Huy Duc Do⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, 1 Ton That Tung, Hanoi, Viet Nam; National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1 Trieu Quoc Dat, Hanoi, Viet Nam. Electronic address: nguyenthulieu@hmu.edu.vn.
² School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, 1 Ton That Tung, Hanoi, Viet Nam. Electronic address: phuonganh14102003@gmail.com.
³ School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, 1 Ton That Tung, Hanoi, Viet Nam. Electronic address: phuongthao09092003@gmail.com.
⁴ School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, 1 Ton That Tung, Hanoi, Viet Nam. Electronic address: dangngocanh743@gmail.com.
⁵ School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, 1 Ton That Tung, Hanoi, Viet Nam. Electronic address: mai3h2@gmail.com.
⁶ College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, 100000, Viet Nam. Electronic address: huydd1905@gmail.com.

PMID: 42284861
DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2026.106605

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of gestational hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia among pregnant women in Vietnam, identify associated maternal and dietary factors, and examine associations with neonatal anthropometric outcomes.

Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 310 pregnant women attending antenatal care and delivery registration at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi (September 2024-January 2025). Maternal sociodemographic, obstetric, anthropometric, dietary habit data and lipid profiles were obtained from structured interviews and medical records. Hypercholesterolemia was defined as total cholesterol ≥7.74 mmol/L and hypertriglyceridemia as triglycerides ≥4.32 mmol/L (pregnancy-specific thresholds). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with lipid abnormalities. Neonatal outcomes were extracted from delivery records and compared by maternal lipid status.

Results: At a mean gestational age of 36.4 ± 1.9 weeks, the mean (SD) values for total cholesterol and triglycerides were 6.60 (1.28) mmol/L and 3.45 (1.41) mmol/L, respectively. The prevalences of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and gestational lipid abnormality were 16.8%, 19.7%, and 31.3%, respectively. Butter consumption ≥1 time/week was independently associated with hypercholesterolemia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-8.64) and gestational lipid abnormality (aOR 4.01; 95% CI 1.61-10.6). Maternal age > 24 years was associated with gestational lipid abnormality (aOR 3.59; 95% CI 1.16-15.8). Neonates of mothers with gestational lipid abnormality had a higher prevalence of low birth weight than those without (5.2% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.013).

Conclusion: Gestational lipid abnormality was common in late pregnancy in this Vietnamese cohort. Although statistically significant, the absolute number of low birth weight infants was small (5.2%, n = 5 in the exposed group vs. 0.5%, n = 1 in the unexposed group; Fisher's exact p = 0.013); these findings require replication in larger prospective cohorts. Nevertheless, the present results support consideration of maternal lipid monitoring and targeted dietary counseling during pregnancy.

Keywords: Birth weight; Gestational lipid abnormality; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertriglyceridemia; Pregnancy.