Breastfeeding, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Size at Birth and Overweight/Obesity in Early Childhood.

Background: Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of childhood overweight/obesity. However, it remains unclear whether this protective effect persists among high-risk populations. This study aims to investigate the association of breastfeeding with the risk of overweight/obesity in early childhood and whether this association is altered by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or size at birth. Methods: Feeding practices during the first 12 months of age and weight and length at 12-36 months of age were collected. Full breastfeeding includes exclusive and predominant breastfeeding. Children with body mass index (BMI) values greater than 1 standard deviation from the mean of sex- and age-specific BMI were classified as overweight/obese. Multiple generalized estimating equations models were applied to analyze the associations of full breastfeeding duration with overweight/obesity risk. Results: Among all participants (n = 9329), infants with a longer full-breastfeeding duration had a reduced risk of overweight/obesity in early childhood compared with those breastfed for less than one month. Infants exposed to GDM and those born large for gestational age (LGA) had a higher risk of overweight/obesity in early childhood. Among infants of mothers with GDM (n = 1748), infants with full breastfeeding for greater than 6 months (aOR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.78) showed a decreased risk of overweight/obesity in early childhood compared with those breastfed for less than one month. Among LGA infants (n = 1279), infants with full breastfeeding for 3-5 months (aOR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.76) and greater than 6 months (aOR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.88) showed a decreased risk of overweight/obesity in early childhood. Similar results were observed among LGA infants of mothers with GDM. Conclusions: Initiating and prolonging breastfeeding would reduce the risk of overweight/obesity in early childhood, and LGA infants and infants born to mothers with GDM would experience greater benefits.

Infancy and Childhood Obesity Grade Predicts Weight Loss in Adulthood: The ONTIME Study.

We examined the relationships between intergenerational obesity, weight and size at birth, and obesity from infancy to adolescence with weight loss in response to a dietary intervention. We studied 4264 participants (3369 women; mean age 41.5 ± 12.9 years) of the ONTIME study. Participants followed a weight-loss treatment based on a Mediterranean diet. Associations between grandparental and parental obesity grade, birth weight and size, and obesity grade in infancy, childhood and adolescence with total weight loss in response to treatment were assessed, using multivariate linear regression models. A lower weight loss (kg) in response to treatment was found among participants who were obese during infancy (beta coefficient -2.13 kg; 95% CI, -3.96, -0.30; p = 0.023). Furthermore, obesity during infancy and also during childhood was associated with a slower weekly rate of weight loss during treatment (p < 0.05). In conclusion, obesity in infancy and in childhood impairs the weight-loss response to dietary treatments in adulthood. Tackling obesity throughout early life may improve the effectiveness of weight-loss interventions in adulthood.

Association between maternal plasma ferritin level and infants' size at birth: a prospective cohort study in rural Bangladesh.

Background: Iron supplementation in pregnancy is recommended by the WHO to prevent a major public health problem, namely, maternal iron deficiency and its consequences. There are gaps in the existing evidence regarding maternal and neonatal benefits and harms of universal iron supplementation. Objective: To evaluate the association between maternal iron status during pregnancy and infant size at birth (birth weight and length). Method: This present prospective cohort study was nested in a food and micronutrient supplementation trial conducted in Matlab (MINIMat study), rural Bangladesh. We randomly selected 573 women recruited into the MINIMat study from January - December 2002 who delivered singletons with available birth anthropometric information. The plasma ferritin of each mother was measured at gestational week 14 (GW14; before the start of micronutrient supplementation) and at week 30 (GW30). Results: Multivariable linear regression revealed no association between plasma ferritin at GW14 and birth weight. However, newborns of women in the highest tertile of plasma ferritin at GW30 (median = 29 µg/L) had on average a 93-gm lower birth weight (95% CI: -172, - 14; p = 0.021) than the newborns of womehemoglobin (Hb) synthesisn in the lowest tertile (median = 8 µg/L). Logistic regression showed that odds of low birth weight were approximately two times higher [odds ratio (OR) = 2.27; 95% CI: 1.40, 3.67] among those with mothers in the highest ferritin tertile than in the lowest tertile at GW30. No association was found between maternal plasma ferritin and birth length. Conclusion: We observed an inverse association between high plasma ferritin in the last trimester (GW30) and birth weight but not birth length. The results suggested that elevated plasma ferritin in pregnancy could have an untoward effect on birth weight.

Disparity in Birth Size of Ethiopian Preterm Infants in Comparison to International INTERGROWTH-21st Data.

Background. Patterns of fetal growth are largely influenced by environmental, nutritional, and socioeconomic factors more than differences in populations. The aim of this study was to assess anthropometric measurements of Ethiopian preterm infants at birth and compare the results with the international INTERGROWTH-21st data. Patients and methods. We analyzed anthropometric data on live-born singleton preterm infants enrolled in a hospital-based multicenter study of illness in preterm infants (SIP). Eligible newborns with gestational age of 28-36 weeks were included. Gestational age (GA) and sex-specific mean and standard deviations (SD), 10th, 50th, 90th, centile values for birth weight, length and head circumference (HC) were calculated and compared with INTERGROWTH-21st data. Result. A total of 2763 preterm infants were included in the study, 54% were male. The prevalence of small for GA (SGA) (<10th percentile) and large for GA (LGA) (>90th percentile) were 10.8% and 9.9%, respectively. In all 3 parameters, the mean values of boys were higher than of girls. Birth weight centiles were comparable to international averages at lower GA, then after GA of 32 weeks the 10th, 50th, and 90th centile values were 100-500 g less than the international averages. The head circumference centiles were mostly comparable, and the 90th centile values were greater than the international averages across the GA and in both sexes. Conclusion. The infants' birth weights were smaller at higher GA, which may indicate maternal undernutrition in the third trimester of pregnancy. Strengthening antenatal nutrition counseling and providing nutrition supplementation might improve the birth weight.

Relationship between litter size at birth and within-litter birth weight characteristics in laboratory mice as pilot animal for pig.

We investigated the relationship between litter size at birth and within-litter birth weight (BW) characteristics of laboratory mice as a pilot mammal for pig. We obtained records of number born alive (NBA) and total and mean litter BW (LWB, MWB), and maximum and minimum values of within-litter BW (MaxIWB, MinIWB), range and standard deviation (Range, SDIWB), skewness (Skew), and kurtosis (Kurt) of within-litter BW for 656 litters at first parity. Pearson's correlations of NBA were highly positive with LWB (0.92), weakly negative with MWB (-0.31), MaxIWB (-0.19), and MinIBW (-0.33), and those of MWB were negligible with Range, SDIWB, Skew, and Kurt (-0.10 to 0.06). Estimated heritabilities, treated as dam traits, were 0.32 for NBA, 0.39 for LWB, 0.24 for MWB, 0.28 for MaxIWB, 0.05 for MinIWB, 0.16 for Range, 0.17 for SDIWB, and 0.00 for Skew and Kurt. Estimated genetic correlation between NBA and LWB was high (0.95). Therefore, LWB could be promising for efficiently improving NBA. The estimated genetic correlation of NBA was negligible with MWB (0.00), positive with MaxIWB (0.10), Range (0.48), and SDIWB (0.36), and negative with MinIWB (-0.36), suggesting that selection for increased NBA brings larger SDIWB and lighter MinIWB.

Body size at birth and age-related macular degeneration in old age.

PURPOSE: To study associations between body size at birth and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in old age. METHODS: The study sample consists of 1497 community-dwelling individuals (56.1% women) aged 67-89 years with birth data and retinal data collected twice in old age 5 years apart. Birth data (weight, length, birth order) were extracted from original birth records. Digital retinal photographs were graded to determine AMD status. Data on covariates were collected at the baseline physical examination in old age. Multivariable regression analyses were used to study the association between birth data and AMD adjusting for known confounding factors, including birth year cohort effects. RESULTS: The prevalence and 5-year incidence of any AMD were 33.1% and 17.0%, respectively. Men and women born in 1930-1936 were significantly leaner and slightly longer at birth compared to those in earlier birth cohorts. There were no consistent associations between weight, length or ponderal index (PI) at birth and AMD in old age even when stratified by birth cohort. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) prevalence (39.8%) and 5-year incidence (28.6%) were highest in individuals who were in the highest quartile of PI at birth and who were obese in old age. CONCLUSION: Body size at birth was not consistently associated with AMD in old age, suggesting that intrauterine growth might have little direct importance in the development of AMD in old age. It is possible that some yet unknown factors related to larger size at birth and obesity in old age may explain differences in the prevalence and incidence of AMD in the ageing population.

Reproductive biology of the Brazilian blind electric ray Benthobatis kreffti (Chondrichthyes: Narcinidae)

This study provides information on the reproductive biology of the Brazilian blind electric ray Benthobatis kreffti, endemic to southern and southeastern Brazil. Individuals were caught by bottom trawl carried out in 2003 and 2007, at 492-501 m depth off the São Paulo State continental slope. A total of 152 females (115-299 mm) and 144 males (91-243 mm) were sampled. Maturity was first observed at 177 and 162 mm, with total length at 50% maturity of 191 and 176 mm in females and males respectively. Uterine fecundity ranged from 1-3 and was not related to female total length. Size at birth estimated from the largest near-term observed embryos and smallest free-swimming ray was 91-100 mm. The low fecundity observed is typical of deepwater elasmobranch species, as well as late maturity in comparison with costal species. The relatively large size-at-birth suggests that this species invests more in length of each embryo than in litter size, increasing the offspring's survival chance. In this context, these parameters highlight the vulnerability of this and other deepwater species to non-natural death, mostly caused by deep-sea fisheries.(AU)

Este estudo apresenta informações sobre a biologia reprodutiva da raia elétrica cega brasileira Benthobatis kreffti, endêmica do sul e sudeste brasileiros. Os indivíduos foram capturados com arrasto de fundo, em 2003 e 2007, a 492-501 m de profundidade no talude continental do Estado de São Paulo. Um total de 152 fêmeas (115-299 mm) e 144 machos (91-243 mm) foram capturados. A maturidade foi observada em fêmeas de 177 mm e machos de 162 mm, com o tamanho onde 50% dos indivíduos encontra-se maduros calculado em 191 mm (fêmeas) e 176 (machos). O tamanho da prole foi de 1-3 embriões e não foi relacionado ao comprimento materno. O tamanho ao nascer foi estimado a partir do tamanho do maior embrião à termo e o menor neonato e foi de 91-100 mm. A baixa fecundidade observada é típica de elasmobrânquios de profundidade, bem como a maturidade tardia, comparados com espécies costeiras. O grande tamanho ao nascer sugere que essa espécie investe no tamanho de cada embrião em vez do número de embriões produzidos, aumentando a chance de sobrevivência da prole. Neste contexto, estes parâmetros ressaltam a vulnerabilidade desta e outras espécies de elasmobrânquios a mortes ocasionadas pela pesca em maiores profundidades.(AU)

Intergenerational determinants of offspring size at birth: a life course and graphical analysis using the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s Study (ACONF).

BACKGROUND: Size at birth has taken on renewed significance due to its now well-established association with many health and health-related outcomes in both the immediate perinatal period and across the entire life course. Optimizing fetal growth to improve both neonatal survival and population health is the focus of much research and policy development, although most efforts have concentrated on either the period of pregnancy itself or the period immediately preceding it. METHODS: Intergenerational data linked to the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s (ACONF) study were used to examine the influence of grandparental and parental life course biological and social variables on the distribution of offspring size at birth. Guided stepwise multivariable methods and a graphical approach were used to assess the relative importance of these temporally ordered and highly correlated life course measures. RESULTS: Both distal and proximal grandparental and parental life course biological and social factors predicted offspring size at birth. Inequalities in size at birth, according to adult maternal socioeconomic indicators, were found to be largely generated by the continuity of the social environment across generations, and the inequalities in maternal early life growth were predicted by the adult grandparental social environment during the mother's early life. Mother's own size at birth predicted her offspring's intrauterine growth, independent of her adult biological and social characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: A mother's childhood social environment and her early growth are both important predictors of her offspring's size at birth. Population strategies aimed at optimizing size at birth require broader social and intergenerational considerations, in addition to focusing on the health of mothers in the immediate pregnancy period.

Pre-hipertensión e hipertensión arterial en adultos jóvenes y su relación con la antropometría al nacimiento: estudio de cohorte / Relationship between size at birth and borderline blood pressure or hypertension in young adults: cohort study

INTRODUCCION: Varios estudios han informado que los trastornos del crecimiento fetal están asociados con las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en la edad adulta, entre ellos la hipertensión arterial (HT), de acuerdo con la hipótesis del origen fetal de las enfermedades de adultos.OBJETIVO: Describir la prevalencia de la presión arterial límite o pre-hipertensión (BBP) e HT entre los adultos jóvenes nacidos en la cohorte 1978-1979 de RiberÊo Preto (Brasil), y evaluar el riesgo de BBP e HT en los adultos jóvenes asociados con el tamaño al nacer, ajustado para el parto y las características de la vida adulta.METODOS: De 6.827 hijos únicos nacidos en los hospitales, 2.060 fueron evaluados a los 23/25 años. Se realizaron análisis bioquímicos y una evaluación antropométrica, y se obtuvo información sobre ocupación, educación, hábitos de vida y enfermedades crónicas. La presión arterial (PA) se clasificó en: 1) BBP: PA sistólica (PAS) ≥ 130 mmHg y/o PA diastólica (PAD) ≥ 85 mmHg, 2) HT: PAS > 140 y/o PAD > 90 mmHg. Las características sociodemográficas y clínicas en el nacimiento y en la edad adulta fueron evaluadas mediante la aplicación de un modelo de regresión logística politómica.RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de BBP fue de 13,5% (hombres 82,8%) y la prevalencia de HT fue de 9,5% (hombres 89,8%). La BBP se asoció con el sexo masculino (RAR 9,11; IC 95% 6,23 a 13,32), el Indice de Masa Corporal (IMC) > 30 kg/m2 (RAR 3,01; IC 95% 1,87-4,85) y la alteración de la circunferencia de la cintura (RAR 1,68, IC 95% 1,17-2,40); la HT se asoció con las mismas variables más alta glucemia en ayunas (RAR 2,86; IC 95% 1,42-5,76).CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de BBP e HT entre los adultos jóvenes fue elevada. No guardó relación con el tamaño al nacer, pero estuvo asociada con la adiposidad corporal alterada y la glucemia.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have reported that disorders of fetal growth are associated with non-communicable chronic diseases in adulthood, among them hypertension (HT), according to the hypothesis of the fetal origin of adult diseases.OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of borderline blood pressure (BBP) and HT among young adults born in the 1978-79 RiberÊo Preto cohort, and to assess the risk of BBP and HT in young adults associated with size at birth, adjusted for birth and adult life characteristics.METHODS: Of the 6.827 singletons born in hospitals, 2.060 were assessed at 23/25 years of age. Blood was collected, anthropometric assessment was performed and information was obtained regarding occupation, schooling, life habits and chronic diseases. Blood pressure (BP) was classified as: 1) BBP: systolic BP (SBP) ≥ 130 mmHg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥ 85 mmHg; 2) HT: SBP > 140 and/or DBP > 90 mmHg. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristic at birth and in adulthood were evaluated applying a polytomic logistic regression model.RESULTS: BBP prevalence was 13.5% (men 82.8%) and HT prevalence was 9.5% (men 89.8%). BBP was associated with male gender (aRR 9.11; 95% CI 6.23-13.32), Body Mass Index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 (aRR 3.01; 95% CI 1.87-4.85) and altered waist circumference (aRR 1.68; 95% CI 1.17-2.40), whilst HT was associated with the same variables plus high fasting glycemia (aRR 2.86; 95% CI 1,42-5.76)CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of BBP and Ht among young adults was high, with no relation with size at birth but associated to altered body adiposity and glycemia.

Pre-hipertensión e hipertensión arterial en adultos jóvenes y su relación con la antropometría al nacimiento: estudio de cohorte / Relationship between size at birth and borderline blood pressure or hypertension in young adults: cohort study

INTRODUCCION: Varios estudios han informado que los trastornos del crecimiento fetal están asociados con las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en la edad adulta, entre ellos la hipertensión arterial (HT), de acuerdo con la hipótesis del origen fetal de las enfermedades de adultos.OBJETIVO: Describir la prevalencia de la presión arterial límite o pre-hipertensión (BBP) e HT entre los adultos jóvenes nacidos en la cohorte 1978-1979 de RiberÒo Preto (Brasil), y evaluar el riesgo de BBP e HT en los adultos jóvenes asociados con el tamaño al nacer, ajustado para el parto y las características de la vida adulta.METODOS: De 6.827 hijos únicos nacidos en los hospitales, 2.060 fueron evaluados a los 23/25 años. Se realizaron análisis bioquímicos y una evaluación antropométrica, y se obtuvo información sobre ocupación, educación, hábitos de vida y enfermedades crónicas. La presión arterial (PA) se clasificó en: 1) BBP: PA sistólica (PAS) ≥ 130 mmHg y/o PA diastólica (PAD) ≥ 85 mmHg, 2) HT: PAS > 140 y/o PAD > 90 mmHg. Las características sociodemográficas y clínicas en el nacimiento y en la edad adulta fueron evaluadas mediante la aplicación de un modelo de regresión logística politómica.RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de BBP fue de 13,5% (hombres 82,8%) y la prevalencia de HT fue de 9,5% (hombres 89,8%). La BBP se asoció con el sexo masculino (RAR 9,11; IC 95% 6,23 a 13,32), el Indice de Masa Corporal (IMC) > 30 kg/m2 (RAR 3,01; IC 95% 1,87-4,85) y la alteración de la circunferencia de la cintura (RAR 1,68, IC 95% 1,17-2,40); la HT se asoció con las mismas variables más alta glucemia en ayunas (RAR 2,86; IC 95% 1,42-5,76).CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de BBP e HT entre los adultos jóvenes fue elevada. No guardó relación con el tamaño al nacer, pero estuvo asociada con la adiposidad corporal alterada y la glucemia.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have reported that disorders of fetal growth are associated with non-communicable chronic diseases in adulthood, among them hypertension (HT), according to the hypothesis of the fetal origin of adult diseases.OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of borderline blood pressure (BBP) and HT among young adults born in the 1978-79 RiberÒo Preto cohort, and to assess the risk of BBP and HT in young adults associated with size at birth, adjusted for birth and adult life characteristics.METHODS: Of the 6.827 singletons born in hospitals, 2.060 were assessed at 23/25 years of age. Blood was collected, anthropometric assessment was performed and information was obtained regarding occupation, schooling, life habits and chronic diseases. Blood pressure (BP) was classified as: 1) BBP: systolic BP (SBP) ≥ 130 mmHg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥ 85 mmHg; 2) HT: SBP > 140 and/or DBP > 90 mmHg. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristic at birth and in adulthood were evaluated applying a polytomic logistic regression model.RESULTS: BBP prevalence was 13.5% (men 82.8%) and HT prevalence was 9.5% (men 89.8%). BBP was associated with male gender (aRR 9.11; 95% CI 6.23-13.32), Body Mass Index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 (aRR 3.01; 95% CI 1.87-4.85) and altered waist circumference (aRR 1.68; 95% CI 1.17-2.40), whilst HT was associated with the same variables plus high fasting glycemia (aRR 2.86; 95% CI 1,42-5.76)CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of BBP and Ht among young adults was high, with no relation with size at birth but associated to altered body adiposity and glycemia.