Maternal Height and Child Growth Patterns

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine associations between maternal height and child growth during 4 developmental periods: intrauterine, birth to age 2 years, age 2 years to mid-childhood (MC), and MC to adulthood.Study designPooled analysis of maternal height and offspring growth using 7630 mother–child pairs from 5 birth cohorts (Brazil, Guatemala, India, the Philippines, and South Africa). We used conditional height measures that control for collinearity in height across periods. We estimated associations between maternal height and offspring growth using multivariate regression models adjusted for household income, child sex, birth order, and study site.ResultsMaternal height was associated with birth weight and with both height and conditional height at each age examined. The strongest associations with conditional heights were for adulthood and 2 years of age. A 1-cm increase in maternal height predicted a 0.024 (95% CI: 0.021-0.028) SD increase in offspring birth weight, a 0.037 (95% CI: 0.033-0.040) SD increase in conditional height at 2 years, a 0.025 (95% CI: 0.021-0.029 SD increase in conditional height in MC, and a 0.044 (95% CI: 0.040-0.048) SD increase in conditional height in adulthood. Short mothers (<150.1 cm) were more likely to have a child who was stunted at 2 years (prevalence ratio = 3.20 (95% CI: 2.80-3.60) and as an adult (prevalence ratio = 4.74, (95% CI: 4.13-5.44). There was no evidence of heterogeneity by site or sex.ConclusionMaternal height influences offspring linear growth over the growing period. These influences likely include genetic and non-genetic factors, including nutrition-related intergenerational influences on growth that prevent the attainment of genetic height potential in low- and middle-income countries.

<b>Nutritional status of children under five years living in area of social vulnerability of Campina Grande, Paraíba State

“…Both maternal weight and stature may influence the linear growth potential and weight gain of the children. These circumstances have been explained by the sharing of genetic, socioeconomic and environmental characteristics (Addo et al, 2013;Araújo et al, 2010;Felisbino-Mendes et al, 2014;Figueroa Pedraza et al, 2013;Sichieri et al, 2010;Symonds et al, 2013). Current analysis revealed a strong association between birth weight and the anthropometric nutritional status of children, with similar results in previous studies, such as studies based on municipal or state population data (Jesus, Castelão, Vieira, Gomes, & Vieira, 2014;Figueiroa et al, 2012;Rissin et al, 2011) and in populations marked by social inequity Lang et al, 2011;Silveira et al, 2010).…”

The effect of maternal and child factors on stunting, wasting and underweight among preschool children in Northern Ghana

“…This relationship has been reported by earlier studies. For example, in an analysis of data of 5 birth cohorts, it was established that short mothers were more likely to have a stunted child [30]. Data from other studies from countries of varying economic development have also shown this relationship [31][32][33].…”

Factors associated with nutritional outcomes in the mother–child dyad: a population-based cross-sectional study

“…that also used the PNDS data set (23) and other studies (50,51) . Mothers with short stature most likely provide a nutritionally restricted uterine environment; therefore, the fetus will have an inadequate supply of nutrients and restricted growth, which will result in low birth weight and short stature (48) .…”