scholarly journals Associations of birth size, infancy, and childhood growth with intelligence quotient at 5 years of age: a Danish cohort study

2020 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helene Kirkegaard ◽  
Sören Möller ◽  
Chunsen Wu ◽  
Jonas Häggström ◽  
Sjurdur Frodi Olsen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background The correlates of prenatal and postnatal growth on Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in childhood in term-born children living in high-income countries are not well known. Objectives We examined how birth size and growth in infancy and childhood were associated with IQ at age 5 y in term-born children using path analysis. Methods The study sample comprised 1719 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort who participated in a substudy in which psychologists assessed IQ using the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scales of Intelligence–Revised. Measured weight, length/height, and head circumference at birth, 5 mo, 12 mo, and 5 y were included in a path model to estimate their total, indirect, and direct effects on IQ. All growth measures were included in the model as sex- and age-standardized z-scores. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, a positive association between birth weight and IQ was observed, and 88% of the association was direct. Weight gain in infancy was associated with IQ [per z-score increase from 5 to 12 mo, IQ increased by 1.53 (95% CI: 0.14; 2.92) points] whereas weight gain from 12 mo to 5 y was not associated with IQ. Height and head circumference growth in childhood was associated with IQ [per z-score increase from 12 mo to 5 y, IQ increased by 0.98 (95% CI: 0.17; 1.79) and 2.09 (95% CI: 0.78; 3.41) points, respectively]. Conclusions In children born at term in an affluent country with free access to health care, higher IQ was seen with greater size at birth and greater weight gain in infancy. Also, greater growth in height and head circumference throughout the first 5 y of life was associated with higher childhood IQ whereas greater weight gain after the first year of life was not.

Hypertension ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Perng ◽  
Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman ◽  
Michael S. Kramer ◽  
Line K. Haugaard ◽  
Emily Oken ◽  
...  

In recent years, the prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension increased markedly among children and adolescents, highlighting the importance of identifying determinants of elevated blood pressure early in life. Low birth weight and rapid early childhood weight gain are associated with higher future blood pressure. However, few studies have examined the timing of postnatal weight gain in relation to later blood pressure, and little is known regarding the contribution of linear growth. We studied 957 participants in Project Viva, an ongoing US prebirth cohort. We examined the relations of gains in body mass index z-score and length/height z-score during 4 early life age intervals (birth to 6 months, 6 months to 1 year, 1 to 2 years, and 2 to 3 years) with blood pressure during mid-childhood (6–10 years) and evaluated whether these relations differed by birth size. After accounting for confounders, each additional z-score gain in body mass index during birth to 6 months and 2 to 3 years was associated with 0.81 (0.15, 1.46) and 1.61 (0.33, 2.89) mm Hg higher systolic blood pressure, respectively. Length/height gain was unrelated to mid-childhood blood pressure, and there was no evidence of effect modification by birth size for body mass index or length/height z-score gain. Our findings suggest that more rapid gain in body mass index during the first 6 postnatal months and in the preschool years may lead to higher systolic blood pressure in mid-childhood, regardless of size at birth. Strategies to reduce accrual of excess adiposity during early life may reduce mid-childhood blood pressure, which may also impact adult blood pressure and cardiovascular health.


Author(s):  
Kyoung Eun Joung ◽  
Camilia R Martin ◽  
Sara Cherkerzian ◽  
Mark Kellogg ◽  
Mandy Brown Belfort

Abstract Context Human milk contains hormones that regulate metabolism. Extrauterine growth restriction remains common among preterm infants, but the effect of ingesting milk hormones on preterm infant growth is poorly understood. Objective To quantify associations of longitudinal exposure to leptin, adiponectin, and insulin in milk with physical growth of preterm infants. Design/Methods In 50 preterm neonates (median gestational age 29.4 weeks), we sampled maternal milk on day-of-life 7, 14, 21, and 28 and measured hormone levels in whole milk by ELISA. Milk leptin levels were available for a subset of 18 infants. We calculated milk hormone doses by multiplying the hormone level by the milk volume ingested on each day and estimated the area under the curve (AUC) to reflect longitudinal exposure. We analyzed associations of milk hormone exposure with growth outcomes in generalized estimated equations. Main Outcome Measures Weight gain velocity and z-scores in weight, length, head circumference, and body mass index at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age (PMA). Results Higher leptin intake was associated with greater weight gain (2.17g/kg/day [95% CI, 1.31, 3.02]) and weight z-score at 36 weeks’ PMA (0.30 [0.08, 0.53] higher z-score per tertile). Higher adiponectin intake was associated with greater length z-score (0.41 [0.13, 0.69]), however, this association was nullified after adjustment of protein and calorie intake. Higher adiponectin was associated with smaller head circumference z-score (−0.36 [−0.64, −0.07]). Insulin was not associated with growth outcomes. Conclusions Milk leptin and adiponectin exposures may affect growth of preterm infants. The long-term effects of milk hormones warrant further investigation.


Author(s):  
Theodore Dassios ◽  
Emma E Williams ◽  
Ann Hickey ◽  
Catey Bunce ◽  
Anne Greenough

ObjectivesTo report the current incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and to compare changes in weight and head circumference between infants who developed BPD and infants who did not.DesignRetrospective, whole-population study.SettingAll neonatal units in England between 2014 and 2018.PatientsAll liveborn infants born <28 completed weeks of gestation.InterventionsThe change in weight z-score (ΔWz) was calculated by subtracting the birthweight z-score from the weight z-score at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and at discharge. The change in head circumference z-score (ΔHz) was calculated by subtracting the birth head circumference z-score from the head circumference z-score at discharge.Main outcome measureBPD was defined as the need for any respiratory support at 36 weeks PMA.Results11 806 infants were included in the analysis. The incidence of BPD was 57.5%, and 18.9% of the infants died before 36 weeks PMA. The median (IQR) ΔWz from birth to 36 weeks PMA was significantly smaller in infants who developed BPD (−0.69 (−1.28 to −0.14), n=6105) than in those who did not develop BPD (−0.89 (−1.40 to −0.33), n=2390; adjusted p<0.001). The median (IQR) ΔHz from birth to discharge was significantly smaller in infants who developed BPD (−0.33 (−1.69 to 0.71)) than in those who did not develop BPD (−0.61 (−1.85 to 0.35); adjusted p<0.001).ConclusionsPostnatal growth was better in infants diagnosed with BPD compared with infants without BPD possibly due to more aggressive nutrition strategies.


Author(s):  
Mercedes Díaz-Rodríguez ◽  
Celia Pérez-Muñoz ◽  
Jesús Carretero-Bravo ◽  
Catalina Ruíz-Ruíz ◽  
Manuel Serrano-Santamaría ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. Several early developmental factors have been identified which are associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity and increased adiposity in childhood. The primary objective of the present study is to analyse the effect of various early risk factors on Body Mass Index (BMI) and body fat percentage at 2 years of age. (2) Methods: A prospective cohort study design was used, with the sample consisting of 109 mother-child pairs from whom data were collected between early pregnancy and 2 years old. Adiposity was determined based on skinfold measurements using the Brooks and Siri formulae. Mean comparison tests (Student’s t-test and ANOVAs) and multiple linear regression models were used to analyse the relationship between early programming factors and dependent variables. (3) Results: Maternal excess weight during early pregnancy (β = 0.203, p = 0.026), gestational smoking (β = 0.192, p = 0.036), and accelerated weight gain in the first 2 years (β = − 0.269, p = 0.004) were significantly associated with high body fat percentage. Pre-pregnancy BMI and accelerated weight gain in the first 2 years were associated with high BMI z-score (β = 0.174, p = 0.047 and β = 0.417, p = 0.000 respectively). The cumulative effect of these variables resulted in high values compared to the baseline zero-factor group, with significant differences in BMI z-score (F = 8.640, p = 0.000) and body fat percentage (F = 5.402, p = 0.002) when three factors were present. (4) Conclusions: The presence of several early risk factors related to obesity in infancy was significantly associated with higher BMI z-score and body fat percentage at 2 years of age. The presence of more than one of these variables was also associated with higher adiposity at 2 years of age. Early prevention strategies should address as many of these factors as possible.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie S. Sandvei ◽  
Signe Opdahl ◽  
Marit Valla ◽  
Pagona Lagiou ◽  
Ellen Veronika Vesterfjell ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Because birth size appears to be positively associated with breast cancer risk, we have studied whether this risk may differ according to molecular breast cancer subtypes. Methods A cohort of 22,931 women born 1920–1966 were followed up for breast cancer occurrence from 1961 to 2012, and 870 were diagnosed during follow-up. Archival diagnostic material from 537 patients was available to determine molecular breast cancer subtype, specified as Luminal A, Luminal B (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-), Luminal B (HER2+), HER2 type, and Triple negative (TN) breast cancer. Information on the women’s birth weight, birth length and head circumference at birth was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each molecular subtype, applying Cox regression, and stratified by maternal height. Results Birth length (per 2 cm increments) was positively associated with Luminal A (HR = 1.2, 95% CI, 1.0–1.3), Luminal B (HER2+) (HR = 1.3, 95% CI, 1.0–1.7), and TN breast cancer (HR = 1.4, 95% CI, 1.0–1.9). No clear association was found for birth weight and head circumference. The positive associations of birth length were restricted to women whose mothers were relatively tall (above population median). Conclusion We found a positive association of birth length with risk of Luminal A, Luminal B (HER2+) and TN breast cancer that appears to be restricted to women whose mothers were relatively tall. This may support the hypothesis that breast cancer risk is influenced by determinants of longitudinal growth and that this finding deserves further scrutiny.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A Miller ◽  
Victor Zak ◽  
Peter Shrader ◽  
Chitra Ravishankar ◽  
Victoria L Pemberton ◽  
...  

Poor somatic growth is common in infants with single ventricle (SV) physiology and has been linked to increased morbidity and impaired neurodevelopment. Asymmetry in somatic growth, a potential brain-sparing adaptation, is important in predicting outcomes in premature and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Objectives: To assess variability in growth asymmetry and its associations with neurodevelopment in infants with SV. Methods: We analyzed growth asymmetry (weight for age z-score (WAZ) minus head circumference for age z-score (HCAZ)), relative head growth (change in cm/change in kg), HCAZ, and change in HCAZ from baseline to pre-Glenn in subjects prospectively enrolled in the Pediatric Heart Network Infant Single Ventricle (ISV) trial. Associations between these indices and results of the Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) and Mental Developmental Index (MDI) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II (BSID) at 14 months were assessed. Results: Of the 230 patients enrolled in ISV, complete biometric data and BSID results were available in 168 (73%). For this cohort, age at enrollment was 21±9 days, age at pre-Glenn was 167±52 days, gestational age was 38.3±1.4 weeks, and 71% were male. Growth asymmetry varied across the cohort at enrollment (0.43 ±1.02, range -2.85 to 4.84) and the pre-Glenn visit (-0.23 ±1.21, range -4.45 to 3.00) as did the relative head growth (2.40±0.86, range 0.50 to 8.00). BSID scores were not associated with indices of growth asymmetry. In univariate analysis, larger pre-Glenn HCAZ correlated with higher MDI (r=0.21, p=0.006) and PDI (r=0.38, p<0.001) and greater increase in HCAZ from enrollment to pre-Glenn was associated with higher PDI (r=0.15, p=0.049). In multivariable modeling adjusting for site, serious adverse events, stage 1 length of stay, and height at 14 months, pre-Glenn HCAZ was an independent predictor of PDI (p=0.03), but not MDI. For each one unit Z-score increase in pre-Glenn HCAZ, the predicted PDI score increased by 2.5 points. Conclusions: In infants with SV, BSID scores were associated with pre-Glenn HCAZ but not with the degree of asymmetric growth. Future studies should explore why asymmetric growth that seems important in premature and SGA infants appears less relevant in infants with SV.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 659-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumi Sato ◽  
Kenichi Sakurai ◽  
Hiromi Tanabe ◽  
Tamotsu Kato ◽  
Yumiko Nakanishi ◽  
...  

AbstractMaternal gut microbiota is thought to be one of the important factors in the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) concept, but the effects of maternal gut microbiota on foetal growth are not well known. In this study, the association between maternal gut microbiota and foetal growth was investigated. Maternal and newborn information, as well as stool samples at the third trimester of pregnancy, were obtained from 51 mother–newborn pairs from the Chiba study of Mother and Child Health (C-MACH). Gut microbiota was analysed by 16S rRNA sequencing of stool samples and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in stool were analysed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. After adjustment for covariates, it was found that maternal gut microbial diversity had a positive association with head circumference in newborn males (Chao 1: adjusted r = 0.515, p = 0.029). Genus Parabacteroides and genus Eggerthella showed negative associations with newborn head circumference and weight, respectively in males (genus Parabacteroides: adjusted r = −0.598, p = 0.009, genus Eggerthella: adjusted r = −0.481, p = 0.043). On the other hand, genus Streptococcus showed a negative association with newborn height in females (adjusted r = −0.413, p = 0.040). In addition, hexanoate was involved in the association between maternal gut microbiota and newborn anthropometrics in the univariate analysis, but not in the multivariate analysis. These data suggest that maternal gut microbiota has sex-specific effects on foetal growth. Maternal gut microbiota is an important factor for optimal intrauterine growth.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Boyd

Abstract Objectives Identify the most significant factors affecting the trajectory of recovery from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), as measured by average daily weight gain in each child 6–59 months of age who were diagnosed and treated for SAM and treated, adjusting for covariates including: breastfeeding status, number of children in household, illness, and distance to health center. Hypothesis 1a: Children 6–59 months enrolled in SAM treatment have slower times to recovery and slower weight gain if they are admitted for treatment at a lower anthropometric cut-off admission (weight for height z-score < −4) than children admitted for treatment at a higher anthropometric cut-off (weight for height z-score ≥ −4). Hypothesis 1b: Older children (24–59 months) recover more quickly than younger children (6–23 months) controlling for ration size. Methods A retrospective panel data analysis on children 6–59 months enrolled in standard outpatient treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) between 2014 and 2016 was conducted. The study period was between September-December 2018. Children were exhaustively sampled. Children with edema, children with implausible z-scores for W/H (<−5 and >5) and H/A (<−6 and >6), children who were referred for inpatient therapeutic feeding to a stabilization center, and children from the same household, except in the case of twins, were eliminated from the analysis. There was one database per country. A total of 1384 children between 6–59 months were included in the analysis. Results The most significant factors affecting the proportional weight gain include age at enrollment (P = 0.001, 95%CI = −0.00—0.00) and Weight for height z-score (WHZ) (P = 0.00, 95%CI = 0.04—0.05) in each child 6–59 months of age who were diagnosed with SAM and treated, adjusting for covariates including: breastfeeding status, number of children in household, illness, and distance to health center. Sex of child did not significantly affect proportional weight gain (P = 0.404, 95%CI = −0.012–0.005). Conclusions The existing protocol to treat severe acute malnutrition should be modified to treat younger children and children who are admitted with a lower weight for height z-score due to different vulnerabilities. Funding Sources The research was conducted as part of a dissertation at The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Data were obtained from World Vision.


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