Birth Weight, Postnatal Weight Gain, and Childhood Adiposity in Relation to Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure During Early Adolescence

Abstract Introduction: Overactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis through a program set by early growth patterns is hypothesized to lead to central obesity, insulin resistance, and hypertension. We therefore examined links between adrenal steroid production and birth weight, rapid early growth, and body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, waist circumference, and resistance to insulin in early childhood through the action of adrenal steroids. Methods: Timed overnight urine samples were collected in 461 children from a large representative birth cohort. In total 244 boys and 188 girls aged 8.2–8.4 yr completed the protocol. The excretion rates of individual steroids were measured to determine total androgen and cortisol metabolites. Indices of activity of 5α-androgen reduction of androgens and cortisol metabolites and 11β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase activity were calculated. Results: In both boys and girls, total urinary androgen and cortisol metabolites were positively related to current height, weight, BMI, and waist circumference. Girls had higher urine androgen metabolite levels and 5α-androgen indexes than boys, and in girls higher androgen metabolite excretion was associated with lower birth weight and faster postnatal weight gain. After adjustment for current BMI, total cortisol metabolites and 11β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase index were not related to birth weight or postnatal weight gain in either sex. Conclusions: These data confirm early growth associations in this cohort seen with plasma levels of adrenal androgens at age 8 yr, at least in girls. Larger studies and follow-up during puberty are needed to exclude the possibility of programming of cortisol metabolism by early growth.

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Association between Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity and Postnatal Weight Gain in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants at Chiang Mai University Hospital

10.1055/s-0039-1693251 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

A. Wongnophirun ◽

W. Tantiprabha ◽

A. Wiwatwongwana ◽

V. Khuwuthyakorn

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

University Hospital ◽

Chiang Mai ◽

Low Birth Weight Infants ◽

Postnatal Weight Gain

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Sex-specific associations of maternal prenatal testosterone levels with birth weight and weight gain in infancy

Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease ◽

10.1017/s2040174413000135 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 280-284 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

K. M. Voegtline ◽

K. A. Costigan ◽

K. T. Kivlighan ◽

J. L. Henderson ◽

J. A. DiPietro

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Testosterone Level ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Salivary Testosterone ◽

Testosterone Levels ◽

Infant Weight Gain ◽

Postnatal Weight Gain ◽

Maternal Testosterone ◽

Age And Sex

Associations between maternal salivary testosterone at 36 weeks’ gestation with birth weight and infant weight gain through 6 months of age were examined in a group of 49 healthy, pregnant women and their offspring. The diurnal decline of maternal testosterone was conserved in late pregnancy, and levels showed significant day-to-day stability. Elevated maternal morning testosterone level was associated with lower birth weight Z-scores adjusted for gestational age and sex, and greater infant weight gain between birth and 6 months. Although maternal testosterone levels did not differ by fetal sex, relations were sex-specific such that maternal testosterone had a significant impact on weight for male infants; among female infants associations were nonsignificant. Results highlight the opposing influence of maternal androgens during pregnancy on decreased growth in utero and accelerated postnatal weight gain.

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Infancy Weight Gain Predicts Childhood Body Fat and Age at Menarche in Girls

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/jc.2008-2489 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 94 (5) ◽

pp. 1527-1532 ◽

Cited By ~ 157

Author(s):

Ken K. Ong ◽

Pauline Emmett ◽

Kate Northstone ◽

Jean Golding ◽

Imogen Rogers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Body Fat ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Dual Energy ◽

Birth Cohort Study ◽

Age At Menarche ◽

Rapid Weight Gain ◽

X Ray ◽

Childhood Adiposity ◽

Postnatal Weight Gain

Abstract Context: Rapid postnatal weight gain has been associated with subsequent increased childhood adiposity. However, the contribution of rapid weight gain during specific infancy periods is not clear. Objective: We aimed to determine which periods of infancy weight gain are related to childhood adiposity and also to age at menarche in UK girls. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 2715 girls from a prospective UK birth cohort study participated in the study. Main Outcome Measures: Routinely measured weights and lengths at ages 2, 9, and 19 months were extracted from the local child health computer database. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at age 10 yr, and age at menarche was assessed by questionnaire (categorized into three groups: <12.0, 12.0–13.0, and >13.0 yr). Results: Faster early infancy weight gain between 0 and 2 months and also 2 to 9 months were associated with increased body fat mass relative to lean mass at age 10 yr and also with earlier age at menarche. Each +1 unit gain in weight sd score between 0 and 9 months was associated with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.48 (1.27–1.60) for overweight (body mass index > 85th centile) at 10 yr, and 1.34 (1.21–1.49) for menarche at less than 12 yr. In contrast, subsequent weight gain between 9 and 19 months was not associated with later adiposity or age at menarche. Conclusions: In developed settings, rapid weight gain during the first 9 months of life is a risk factor for both increased childhood adiposity and early menarche in girls.

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