Body composition, smoking, and spontaneous dizygotic twinning

Hoekstra, Chantal; Willemsen, Gonneke; Beijsterveldt, Catharina E. M. van; Lambalk, Cornelis B.; Montgomery, Grant W.; Boomsma, Dorret I.

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.10.012

Cited by 38 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Since variation in twinning is mostly due to differences in DZ twinning rates, and favorable reproductive conditions would be expected to result in more robust phenotypes in offspring, our findings of a greater height and BMI in DZ twins are in line with this hypothesis. Since height and BMI are highly heritable traits, the evidence that mothers of DZ twins are taller and heavier than mothers of MZ twins (Corney et al, 1979; Hoekstra et al, 2010; Nylander, 1981; Reddy et al, 2005) offers a further possible explanation. Basso et al (2004) observed that the association of maternal height and BMI with the odds of twinning was slightly stronger when singleton mothers were compared with opposite-sex twin mothers (i.e., DZ twin mothers) than with all twin mothers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project

et al. 2015

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A trend toward greater body size in dizygotic (DZ) than in monozygotic (MZ) twins has been suggested by some but not all studies, and this difference may also vary by age. We analyzed zygosity differences in mean values and variances of height and body mass index (BMI) among male and female twins from infancy to old age. Data were derived from an international database of 54 twin cohorts participating in the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins), and included 842,951 height and BMI measurements from twins aged 1 to 102 years. The results showed that DZ twins were consistently taller than MZ twins, with differences of up to 2.0 cm in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.9 cm in adulthood. Similarly, a greater mean BMI of up to 0.3 kg/m2 in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.2 kg/m2 in adulthood was observed in DZ twins, although the pattern was less consistent. DZ twins presented up to 1.7% greater height and 1.9% greater BMI than MZ twins; these percentage differences were largest in middle and late childhood and decreased with age in both sexes. The variance of height was similar in MZ and DZ twins at most ages. In contrast, the variance of BMI was significantly higher in DZ than in MZ twins, particularly in childhood. In conclusion, DZ twins were generally taller and had greater BMI than MZ twins, but the differences decreased with age in both sexes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project

et al. 2015

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“…In 2005, a questionnaire on familial twinning (Qft) was sent to all ANTR and YNTR mothers of multiples in the NTR [26,27]. This survey inquired about the occurrence of multiple births within a family, mode of conception, information on delivery and parental characteristics.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth weight in a large series of triplets

et al. 2011

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BackgroundTriplets are often born premature and with a low birth weight. Because the incidence of triplet births is rare, there are relatively few studies describing triplet birth weight characteristics. Earlier studies are often characterized by small sample sizes and lack information on important background variables such as zygosity. The objective of this study is to examine factors associated with birth weight in a large, population-based sample of triplets registered with the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR).MethodsIn a sample of 1230 triplets from 410 families, the effects of assisted reproductive techniques, zygosity, birth order, gestational age, sex, maternal smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy on birth weight were assessed. The resemblance among triplets for birth weight was estimated as a function of zygosity. Birth weight discordance within families was studied by the pair-wise difference between triplets, expressed as a percentage of the birth weight of the heaviest child. We compare data from triplets registered with the NTR with data from population records, which include live births, stillbirths and children that have deceased within days after birth.ResultsThere was no effect of assisted reproductive techniques on triplet birth weight. At gestational age 24 to 40 weeks triplets gained on average 130 grams per week; boys weighed 110 grams more than girls and triplets of smoking mothers weighted 104 grams less than children of non-smoking mothers. Monozygotic triplets had lower birth weights than di- and trizygotic triplets and birth weight discordance was smaller in monozygotic triplets than in di- and trizygotic triplets. The correlation in birth weight among monozygotic and dizygotic triplets was 0.42 and 0.32, respectively. In nearly two-thirds of the families, the heaviest and the lightest triplet had a birth weight discordance over 15%. The NTR sample is representative for the Dutch triplet population that is still alive 28 days after birth.ConclusionBirth weight is an important determinant of childhood development. Triplet status, gestational age, sex, zygosity and maternal smoking affect birth weight. The combined effects amount to a difference of 364 grams between monozygotic girl triplets of smoking mothers compared to dizygotic boy triplets of non-smoking mothers of the same gestational age. Birth weight in triplets is also influenced by genetic factors, as indicated by a larger correlation in monozygotic than in di- and trizygotic triplets.

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“…4 , 17 – 19 The effect of maternal physique has also been reported recently. Taller mothers and those with a high body mass index have a greater likelihood of dizygotic twinning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…The influence of these factors has not been analyzed using Japanese data, but their effects are small when compared with maternal age, as shown in studies conducted in other countries. 17 – 19 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Maternal Age and Fertility Treatment on the Increase in Multiple Births in Japan: Vital Statistics, 1974–2009

Ooki

2011

Journal of Epidemiology

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BackgroundThe present study used vital-statistics data to estimate the effect of maternal age and fertility treatment on the number and rate of multiple live births in Japan from 1974 through 2009.MethodsJapanese vital statistics published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare from 1974 to 2009 were gathered and reanalyzed with regard to maternal age class and plurality of live births. The numbers of spontaneous and iatrogenic multiple births during 1977–2009 were estimated, with the assumption that spontaneous multiple-birth rates according to maternal age class would be constant and equal to those of baseline values, ie, the means between 1974 and 1976.ResultsDuring the 25-year period, multiple-birth rates according to maternal age class increased after the late 1980s. This tendency was obvious in women aged 35 to 39 years. The estimated numbers of iatrogenic multiple births remained nearly constant in women aged 20 to 24 years and greatly increased in women aged 30 to 34 and 35 to 39 years. The rate (per 1000 live births) of iatrogenic multiple births gradually increased from 0.7 (1977) to 1.3 (1986), then rapidly and markedly increased from 1.3 (1986) to 11.4 (2005), and finally decreased to 8.1 (2009). The estimated maximum percentage of iatrogenic multiple births was 50.0%, in 2004 and 2005.ConclusionsThe rapid increases in Japan in the number and rate of multiples born to women older than 30 years are likely due to iatrogenic rather than spontaneous multiple births.

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Body composition, smoking, and spontaneous dizygotic twinning

Cited by 38 publications

References 44 publications

Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project

Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project

Birth weight in a large series of triplets

Effect of Maternal Age and Fertility Treatment on the Increase in Multiple Births in Japan: Vital Statistics, 1974–2009

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