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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Geographical variation in relationships between parental body size and offspring phenotype at birth
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, Volume 85, No. 9, Year 2006
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Description
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. © 2006 Taylor & Francis.
Authors & Co-Authors
Leary, Sam D.
Unknown Affiliation
Fall, Caroline H.D.
Unknown Affiliation
Osmond, Clive
Unknown Affiliation
Lovel, Hermione J.
Unknown Affiliation
Campbell, Doris M.
Unknown Affiliation
Eriksson, Johan Gunnar
Unknown Affiliation
Forrester, Terrence E.
Unknown Affiliation
Godfrey, Keith M.
Unknown Affiliation
Hill, Jacqui
Unknown Affiliation
Jie, Mi
Unknown Affiliation
Law, Catherine M.
Unknown Affiliation
Newby, Rachel M.
Unknown Affiliation
Robinson, Sîan M.
Unknown Affiliation
Yajnik, Chittaranjan Sakerlal
Unknown Affiliation
Statistics
Citations: 93
Authors: 14
Affiliations: 12
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1080/00016340600697306
ISSN:
00016349
e-ISSN:
16000412
Research Areas
Food Security
Genetics And Genomics
Maternal And Child Health
Study Locations
Congo
Nigeria