Open AccessGeographical variation in relationships between parental body size and offspring phenotype at birth
Author(s) -
Leary Sam,
Fall Caroline,
Osmond Clive,
Lovel Hermione,
Campbell Doris,
Eriksson Johan,
Forrester Terrence,
Godfrey Keith,
Hill Jacqui,
Jie Mi,
Law Catherine,
Newby Rachel,
Robinson Sian,
Yajnik Chittaranjan
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1080/00016340600697306
Subject(s) - offspring , maternal effect , medicine , fetus , birth weight , phenotype , pregnancy , gestation , anthropometry , body mass index , singleton , birth order , demography , obstetrics , biology , genetics , endocrinology , population , environmental health , sociology , gene
Background. Size and body proportions at birth are partly determined by maternal body composition, but most studies of mother–baby relationships have only considered the effects of maternal height and weight on offspring birth weight, and few have examined the size of effects. Paternal size and body composition also play a role, primarily through the fetal genome, although few studies have investigated relationships with neonatal phenotype. Methods. Data from the UK, Finland, India, Sri Lanka, China, DR Congo, Nigeria and Jamaica were used to investigate the effects of maternal measures (derived at 30 weeks’ gestation, n =16,418), and also paternal size ( n =3,733) on neonatal phenotype, for singleton, live‐born, term births. Results. After accounting for variation in maternal size and shape across populations, differences in neonatal phenotype were markedly reduced. Mother–baby relationships were similar across populations, although some were stronger in developing countries. Maternal height was generally the strongest predictor of neonatal length, maternal head circumference of neonatal head and maternal skinfold thickness of neonatal skinfolds. Relationships with maternal arm muscle area were generally weak. Effects of paternal height and body mass index were weaker than the equivalent maternal measurements in most studies. Conclusions. Differences in maternal body composition account for a large part of the geographical variation in neonatal phenotype. The size of the effects of all maternal measures on neonatal phenotype suggests that nutrition at every stage of the mother's life cycle may influence fetal growth. Further research is needed into father–baby relationships and the genetic mechanisms that influence fetal growth.