Abstract
Objective
Associations between parental and offspring size at birth are well established, but the relative importance of parental growth at different ages as predictors of offspring birthweight is less certain. Here we model parental birthweight and postnatal conditional growth in specific age periods as predictors of offspring birthweight.
Methods
We analyzed data from 3,392 adults participating in four prospective birth cohorts and 5,506 of their offspring.
Results
There was no significant heterogeneity by study site or offspring sex. 1SD increase in maternal birthweight was associated with offspring birthweight increases of 102 g, 1SD in maternal length growth 0–2 year with 46 g, and 1SD in maternal height growth Mid‐childhood (MC)‐adulthood with 27 g. Maternal relative weight measures were associated with 24 g offspring birth weight increases (2 year‐ MC) and 49 g for MC‐adulthood period but not with earlier relative weight 0–2 year. For fathers, birthweight, and linear/length growth from 0–2 year were associated with increases of 57 and 56 g in offspring birthweight, respectively but not thereafter.
Conclusions
Maternal and paternal birthweight and growth from birth to 2 year each predict offspring birthweight. Maternal growth from MC‐adulthood, relative weight from 2‐MC and MC‐adulthood also predict offspring birthweight. These findings suggest that shared genes and/or adequate nutrition during early life for both parents may confer benefits to the next generation, and highlight the importance of maternal height and weight prior to conception. The stronger matrilineal than patrilineal relationships with offspring birth weight are consistent with the hypothesis that improving the early growth conditions of young females can improve birth outcomes in the next generation. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:99–105, 2015. © 2014 The Authors American Journal of Human Biology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Associations between parental and offspring size at birth are well established, but the relative importance of parental growth at different ages as predictors of offspring birthweight is less certain. Here we model parental birthweight and postnatal conditional growth in specific age periods as predictors of offspring birthweight.
Methods
We analyzed data from 3,392 adults participating in four prospective birth cohorts and 5,506 of their offspring.
Results
There was no significant heterogeneity by study site or offspring sex. 1SD increase in maternal birthweight was associated with offspring birthweight increases of 102 g, 1SD in maternal length growth 0–2 year with 46 g, and 1SD in maternal height growth Mid‐childhood (MC)‐adulthood with 27 g. Maternal relative weight measures were associated with 24 g offspring birth weight increases (2 year‐ MC) and 49 g for MC‐adulthood period but not with earlier relative weight 0–2 year. For fathers, birthweight, and linear/length growth from 0–2 year were associated with increases of 57 and 56 g in offspring birthweight, respectively but not thereafter.
Conclusions
Maternal and paternal birthweight and growth from birth to 2 year each predict offspring birthweight. Maternal growth from MC‐adulthood, relative weight from 2‐MC and MC‐adulthood also predict offspring birthweight. These findings suggest that shared genes and/or adequate nutrition during early life for both parents may confer benefits to the next generation, and highlight the importance of maternal height and weight prior to conception. The stronger matrilineal than patrilineal relationships with offspring birth weight are consistent with the hypothesis that improving the early growth conditions of young females can improve birth outcomes in the next generation. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:99–105, 2015. © 2014 The Authors American Journal of Human Biology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 99-105 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | American Journal of Human Biology |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 3 Sept 2014 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Funding InformationBill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Grant Number: OPP1020058
Wellcome Trust 089257/Z/09/Z Contract grant sponsor: the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at National Institutes of Health. Grant Number: HHSN 268200900028C to the Center of Excellence – INCAP/ Guatemala; and Grand Challenges Canada (Grant number: 0072‐03 to the Grantee, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania)
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Aravinda Guntupalli
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, Applied Health Sciences - Senior Lecturer
Person: Academic