Low birth weight is related to increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in adult life. Since obesity is closely associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the relationship between size at birth and adult anthropometry is of interest as a mediator of the relationship between birth weight and metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was, therefore, to examine the effect of size at birth and prematurity on measures of adult anthropometry taking adult socio-economic status and lifestyle variables into account. Midwife records with information on mother’s age and parity as well as weight, length and maturity at birth were traced in 4744 Danes born between 1939 and 1970. Measures of adult anthropometry (weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference and waist/hip ratio) had previously been recorded together with information on socio-economic factors, lifestyle and parental diabetes status. Mother’s age, parity and diabetes status were associated with offspring birth weight. Size at birth was positively associated with adult height and weight, but only weakly associated with BMI and not associated with waist/hip ratio when adjusted for socio-economic and lifestyle factors. Infants born preterm were less growth restricted at birth and grew to be taller and heavier compared with term infants born small for gestational age. Altogether, this study does not find evidence that obesity or a central fat distribution is mediating the relationship between low birth weight and risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes in later life.

From 1949 to 1962, residents of several villages in Kazakhstan received substantial doses of radiation to the thyroid gland resulting from nuclear tests conducted at the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site. The primary source of radiation was internal from an intake of radioactive iodine by consumption of contaminated dairy products. A previous research study of childhood exposure and thyroid disease in this region gathered limited data on study participants’ dairy intake at the time of the fallout for the purpose of estimating past radiation doses. As many participants were too young at the time of the nuclear tests to recall dietary consumption and existing sources of archival data are limited, it was necessary to interview parents and other village residents who cared for children during this time – older adults ranging in age from 75 to 90 years. Results from 11 focus group interviews conducted in 2007 with 82 women from 4 villages in Kazakhstan yielded group-level estimates of age-, gender-, ethnicity- and village-specific dairy consumption patterns in rural Kazakhstan during the 1950s. Children typically consumed cow’s milk with limited consumption of mare, goat and sheep milk; and consumed dairy products such as sour milk (airan), soft cottage cheese (tvorog) and fermented mare milk (koumiss) with the greatest amounts of koumiss reported at ages 15–21 years. The consumption patterns differed by age, and between Kazakh and Russian children, which should lead to different estimates of radiation exposure to the thyroid. This study showed the utility of focus groups to obtain quantitative estimates for dietary intake in the distant past.

We hypothesized that the altered placental proportions that influence birth weight affect childhood body proportions, and that these effects would be independent of birth weight. We also hypothesized that altered placental proportions might affect the fetal cardiovascular system, and may be reflected in variation in childhood blood pressure. By using linear regression with birth weight as the dependent variable, placental variables were entered as predictors. The predicted birth weights based on placental factors were then obtained. The ratio of the actual birth weight to that predicted by placental parameters (observed/expected ratio, OER) was used as the independent variable in analyses of age 7 year body mass index (BMI) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the 15,902 singleton liveborns delivered between 34 and 43 weeks. The standardized residual birth weight was also used as a variable to examine the effects of birth weight that is not consistent with placental parameters. For each unit increase in the OER, BMI at 7 years increased 1 kg/m2 (P < 0.0001). The OER also had a significant effect on DBP (β = 4.52, P < 0.001) at 7 years of age but only among African-American children. Results for the standardized residual birth weight variable were consistent with the OER. All results were adjusted for gestational age, sex, socioeconomic status, African-American race and maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. Being larger or smaller than predicted by one’s placenta affects childhood body composition and blood pressure. The placental measurements provide insight into pathophysiological mechanisms of the developmental origins of adult disease.

Foetal development may permanently affect muscle function. Indian newborns have a low mean birthweight, predominantly due to low lean tissue and muscle mass. We aimed to examine the relationship of birthweight, and arm muscle area (AMA) at birth and post-natal growth to handgrip strength in Indian children. Grip strength was measured in 574 children aged 9 years, who had detailed anthropometry at birth and every 6–12 months post-natally. Mean (standard deviation (s.d.)) birthweight was 2863 (446) g. At 9 years, the children were short (mean height s.d. −0.6) and light (mean weight s.d. −1.1) compared with the World Health Organization growth reference. Mean (s.d.) grip strength was 12.7 (2.2) kg (boys) and 11.0 (2.0) kg (girls). Weight, length and AMA at birth, but not skinfold measurements at birth, were positively related to 9-year grip strength (β = 0.40 kg/s.d. increase in birthweight, P < 0.001; and β = 0.41 kg/s.d. increase in AMA, P < 0.001). Grip strength was positively related to 9-year height, body mass index and AMA and to gains in these measurements from birth to 2 years, 2–5 years and 5–9 years (P < 0.001 for all). The associations between birth size and grip strength were attenuated but remained statistically significant for AMA after adjusting for 9-year size. We conclude that larger overall size and muscle mass at birth are associated with greater muscle strength in childhood, and that this is mediated mainly through greater post-natal size. Poorer muscle development in utero is associated with reduced childhood muscle strength.

Prenatal exposure to the 1918 influenza pandemic (Influenza A, H1N1 subtype) is associated with ⩾20% excess cardiovascular disease at 60 to 82 years of age, relative to cohorts born without exposure to the influenza epidemic, either prenatally or postnatally (defined by the quarter of birth), in the 1982–1996 National Health Interview Surveys of the USA. Males showed stronger effects of influenza on increased later heart disease than females. Adult height at World War II enlistment was lower for the 1919 birth cohort than for those born in adjacent years, suggesting growth retardation. Calculations on the prevalence of maternal infections indicate that prenatal exposure to even uncomplicated maternal influenza may have lasting consequences later in life. These findings suggest novel roles for maternal infections in the fetal programming of cardiovascular risk factors that are independent of maternal malnutrition.

The hypothesis that vitamin content of the diet during gestation alters macronutrient choice, food intake and the expression of serotonin receptors and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in the hypothalamus of the offspring was investigated. Pregnant Wistar rats (n = 10/group) were fed the AIN-93G diet containing a multivitamin mix at the recommended (RV) content or10-fold higher (high vitamin, HV) content. Male offspring were weaned to a choice of 10% and 60% casein diets. Intake regulation by the serotonergic system was determined by measuring food choice daily for 7 weeks, and following tryptophan (TRP) or mCPP (a serotonin receptor agonist) injections at 4 and 6 weeks post-weaning. mRNA expressions of hypothalamic serotonin receptor and POMC were measured at birth, weaning and sacrifice (7 weeks post-weaning). No differences were found in body weight at birth or weaning. HV offspring had lower food intake for the duration of the study (P < 0.001), and 11% lower body weight (P < 0.05) and 23% lower fat pad mass (P < 0.05) at 7 weeks post-weaning. They selected less protein following 12 h of food deprivation (P < 0.05) and were less responsive to TRP (P = 0.05) and mCPP (P < 0.05) injections at 6 weeks post-weaning. Expressions of mRNA for serotonin receptors 5-HT1A/2A/2C at weaning (P < 0.01) and of POMC at weaning and 7 weeks post-weaning (P < 0.05) were lower. In conclusion, intake of multivitamins above the requirements during pregnancy affected macronutrient choice, food intake and the expression of serotonin receptors and POMC in the hypothalamus.

Vitamin A plays an important role in fetal renal and cardiovascular development, yet there has been little research on its effects on cardiovascular risk factors later in childhood. To examine this question, we followed the children of women who had been participants in a cluster-randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial of weekly supplementation with 7000 μg retinol equivalents of preformed vitamin A or 42 mg of β-carotene from 1994 to 1997 in rural Nepal. Women received their assigned supplements before, during and after pregnancy. Over a study period of 3 years, 17,531 infants were born to women enrolled in the trial. In 2006–2008, we revisited and assessed 13,118 children aged 9–13 years to examine the impact of maternal supplementation on early biomarkers of chronic disease. Blood pressure was measured in the entire sample of children. In a subsample of 1390 children, venous blood was collected for plasma glucose, Hb1Ac and lipids and a morning urine specimen was collected to measure the ratio of microalbumin/creatinine. Detailed anthropometry was also conducted in the subsample. The mean ± s.d. systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 97.2 ± 8.2 and 64.6 ± 8.5 mm Hg, respectively, and about 5.0% had high-blood pressure (⩾120/80 mm Hg). The prevalence of microalbuminuria (⩾30 mg/g creatinine) was also low at 4.8%. There were no differences in blood pressure or the risk of microalbuminuria between supplement groups. There were also no group differences in fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides or cholesterol. Maternal supplementation with vitamin A or β-carotene had no overall impact on cardiovascular risk factors in this population at pre-adolescent age in rural Nepal.

The objectives of this study were to determine compliance rate in a uniform, urban African-American patient population at environmental risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome and to define risk factors for non-compliance with neurodevelopmental follow-up. A retrospective chart review was performed which included 481 infants with birth weight (BW) of 495–4195 g and gestational ages (GAs) between 23 and 42 weeks born at our hospital. Statistical analysis was performed using the Jonckheere–Terpstra test for ordinal variables. For 2 × 2 tables, χ2 test and Fisher’s exact test (P < 0.05) were used. To determine significant predictive variables, data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression with one independent variable at a time. Infants compliant with follow-up had significantly more morbidities in the very low BW category (⩽1500 g) than infants with larger BW. The highest compliance rate (70%) was found among the smallest and most immature (GA ⩽28 weeks) infants. Based on this finding, we postulate that the number of infants with severe disability is not likely to be underestimated. The significantly more frequent developmental anomalies found in the largest BW (⩽2500 g) category raises significant concern, though findings in this subset of infants may not be representative of the whole population. There was no significant difference between the compliant and non-compliant groups regarding socio-economic status. Severe or multiple morbidities and prolonged hospital stay may provide parents with greater opportunity to learn and understand about the infant’s condition which may lead to greater compliance.

Early attachment relationships from infancy onward contribute to attachment patterns later in life, to the ability to build up close relationships and to well-being in general. Severely preterm birth may challenge the development of these attachment relationships. We studied whether there are differences in attachment patterns related to romantic relationships between young adults (mean age 22.4 years, s.d. 2.2 years) with very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g; n = 162) and their peers born at term (n = 172), who completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire – Revised. Young adults born at VLBW showed lower attachment-related anxiety than their peers born at term (mean difference −9.5%, 95% CI −16.0 to −2.6) when adjusted for sex, age, parental education and being in a romantic relationship currently. The groups did not differ in attachment-related avoidance. In subgroup analyses, the VLBW women born small for gestational age (SGA, birth weight <−2 s.d.) scored on average 14.8% (95% CI 3.1–26.6) higher than the control women on attachment avoidance. The effects remained after the exclusion of 18 participants with neurosensory deficits. We found no evidence for a compromised attachment pattern in young adults born at VLBW, with a possible exception of women born SGA at VLBW. VLBW adults were rather characterized by a lower level of attachment-related anxiety.

Little is known about the consequences of maternal copper (Cu) deficiency on the vascular function of offspring or on perpetuation of vascular effects to a second generation. We examined vascular functional responses in mesenteric arteries from Cu-deficient Sprague-Dawley rat dams and from offspring directly exposed to maternal Cu deficiency during development and lactation and perpetuation of the effects in a second generation of offspring. Dams were fed a diet with marginal (1 mg Cu/kg) or adequate (6 mg Cu/kg) Cu for 3 weeks before conception and throughout pregnancy and lactation periods. Half of the first generation (F1) litters were cross-fostered. At reproductive maturity, F1 pairs were bred within groups resulting in second generation (F2) offspring. At 9 weeks of age, mesenteric artery (200 μm) isometric tension was determined in response to vasoconstrictors and vasorelaxants using a small artery wire myograph. Cu deficiency did not alter the vascular function in dams. In F1 offspring, increased responsiveness to potassium chloride in male offspring was due to direct exposure to maternal Cu deficiency in the birth mother, while enhanced endothelium-dependent relaxation responses in female offspring resulted from postnatal exposure to maternal Cu deficiency. Increased endothelium independent and decreased endothelium-dependent relaxation responses were identified in F2 Cu-deficient male offspring. These data indicate that exposure to maternal Cu deficiency during critical windows of development alter the vascular function across two generations of offspring.

Rates of weight gain in infancy and early childhood can influence later neurocognitive, metabolic and cardiovascular health. We studied the relationship of weight gain during infancy and early childhood to intelligence quotient (IQ), blood pressure (BP) and body mass index (BMI) at age 9 in children born with very low birth weight (VLBW). Sixty-five children born prematurely with VLBW were followed longitudinally and at 9 years IQ, BP and BMI were measured. The mean weight z-scores at birth, neonatal intensive care discharge, 1 year corrected for prematurity, 5 and 9 years were −0.17, −2.09, −1.3, −0.68 and 0.06, respectively. Weight gain during infancy (discharge to 1 year corrected for prematurity) and early childhood (1 year corrected age to 5 years) was expressed as rate of change in weight, rate of change in weight z-score and interval change in weight z-score. In multiple regression analyses that adjusted for race, gender, maternal education, antenatal steroids, birth weight z-score, major intracranial lesions on ultrasound and chronic lung disease, rates of weight gain in infancy and early childhood were predictive of BMI z-score at 9 years, regression coefficients (95% confidence intervals); 0.19 (0.02, 0.36) and 0.37 (0.11, 0.63), respectively, expressed as change in BMI z-score per 10 g/week weight increase. Rates of weight gain were not predictive of systolic BP z-score, Verbal IQ or Performance IQ. In VLBW infants, more rapid weight gain during infancy, and especially early childhood, is associated with higher BMI at school age.

Early growth is associated with later risk of osteoporosis and fractures. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationships between maternal lifestyle and body composition and neonatal bone size, geometry and density in the offspring. Participants were recruited from the Southampton Women’s Survey, a unique prospective cohort of 12,500 initially non-pregnant women aged 20–34 years, resident in Southampton, UK. These women were studied in detail before and during pregnancy, and the offspring underwent anthropometric and bone mineral assessment (using dual energy-X-ray absorptiometry) at birth. A total of 841 mother–baby pairs were studied (443 boys and 398 girls). The independent predictors of greater neonatal whole body bone area (BA) and bone mineral content included greater maternal birthweight, height, parity, triceps skinfold thickness and lower walking speed in late pregnancy. Maternal smoking was independently associated with lower neonatal bone mass. Neonatal BA adjusted for birth length (a measure of bone width) was predicted positively by maternal parity and late pregnancy triceps skinfold thickness and negatively by late pregnancy walking speed. These findings were similar in both genders. We have confirmed, in a large cohort, previous findings that maternal lifestyle and body build predict neonatal bone mineral; additionally, maternal parity and fat stores and walking speed in late pregnancy were associated with neonatal bone geometry. These findings may suggest novel public health strategies to reduce the burden of osteoporotic fracture in future generations.

Low birth weight is associated with obesity in later life and a more central fat distribution has a positive correlation with cardiovascular disease. However, the correlation between visceral adiposity in newborns and birth size is unknown. We measured the visceral adiposity in 118 newborns using the abdominal wall fat index (AFI), ratio between the maximum thickness of preperitoneal and the minimum thickness of subcutaneous fat evaluated by ultrasound. There was a weak negative correlation between AFI and birth weight (r = −0.197; P = 0.033) but not with birth length (r = −0.118; P = 0.201), body mass index (r = −0.138; P = 0.176) and abdominal circumference (r = 0.063; P = 0.497). In conclusion, we suggest that AFI is a useful parameter for evaluating the fat distribution in newborns and that visceral adiposity has a weak negative correlation with birth weight.

Lower birthweight, and rapid childhood weight gain predict elevated cardiovascular risk factors in children. We examined associations between serial, detailed, anthropometric measurements from birth to 9.5 years of age and cardiovascular risk markers in Indian children. Children (n = 663) born at the Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, Mysore, India were measured at birth and 6–12 monthly thereafter. At 9.5 years, 539 (255 boys) underwent a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, and blood pressure (BP) and fasting lipid concentrations were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated using the HOMA equation. These outcomes were examined in relation to birth measurements and changes in measurements (growth) during infancy (0–2 years), 2–5 years and 5–9.5 years using conditional s.d. scores. Larger current weight, height and skinfold thickness were associated with higher risk markers at 9.5 years (P < 0.05). Lower weight, smaller length and mid-arm circumference at birth were associated with higher fasting glucose concentrations at 9.5 years (P ⩽ 0.01). After adjusting for current weight/height, there were inverse associations between birthweight and/or length and insulin concentrations, HOMA, systolic and diastolic BP and plasma triglycerides (P < 0.05). Increases in conditional weight and height between 0–2, 2–5 and 5–9.5 years were associated with higher insulin concentrations, HOMA and systolic BP. In conclusion, in 9–10-year-old Indian children, as in other studies, cardiovascular risk factors were highest in children who were light or short at birth but heavy or tall at 9 years. Greater infant and childhood weight and height gain were associated with higher risk markers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the assumed positive association of pre-existent and pregnancy-induced hypertension with the offspring’s weight and length gain in the first 14 months of life. We studied 3994 pregnant women and their offspring in a prospective community-based cohort study, starting between 2003 and 2004 (Amsterdam Born Children and their Development, ABCD study). Questionnaires obtaining information about hypertension during pregnancy were completed, and this was complemented with additional information from the obstetric caregiver. Anthropometry of the offspring was followed during the first 14 months of life. Main outcome measures were presence or absence of growth acceleration in weight or length (normal: ΔSDS ⩽ 0.67 v. growth acceleration: ΔSDS > 0.67). The relation between hypertension during pregnancy and weight and length gain was addressed by logistic regression analyses. We found that pre-existent hypertension was related to growth acceleration in weight and length. After correction for birth weight and pregnancy duration, the effect remained significant for growth acceleration in weight (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.21–2.97; P < 0.01). Pregnancy-induced hypertension showed similar results, although correction for birth weight and pregnancy duration rendered the associations non-significant. In conclusion, infants of women with pre-existent hypertension during pregnancy more frequently have growth acceleration in weight and length, and yet the mechanisms acting on postnatal growth appear to be different.

An appropriate foetal cardiovascular (CV) response to reduced substrate supply (e.g. oxygen or other nutrients) is vital for growth and development, and may impact on CV control. The prevailing nutritional environment and associated CV changes may influence subsequent CV responses to challenges during late gestation, for example, umbilical cord occlusion (UCO). We investigated the effect of low-circulating glucose on foetal CV control mechanisms and response to UCO. Under general anaesthesia, late gestation foetal sheep (n = 7, 119 days gestational age (dGA), term ∼147 days) were implanted with vascular catheters, a bladder catheter, electrocardiogram electrodes and an umbilical cord occluder. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and kidney function were monitored during maternal saline (MSAL, 125dGA) and insulin (MINS, 126dGA) infusion, and foetal CV responses were assessed during incremental doses of angiotensin II, a 90-s total UCO, and administration of phenylephrine to assess baroreflex function. During MINS infusion, the decrease in maternal and foetal blood glucose was associated with a small but significant decrease in foetal HR and reduced foetal baroreflex sensitivity (P < 0.05). The increase in foetal MAP during a 90-s UCO was greater during hypoglycaemia (P < 0.05). The MAP response to angiotensin II was not affected by hypoglycaemia. Decreased foetal HR and baroreflex sensitivity and increased CV responsiveness to UCO during hypoglycaemia indicates altered CV homoestatic mechanisms. The combination of altered nutrition and a CV challenge, such as UCO, during late gestation may have a cumulative effect on foetal CV function.