Prenatal illness and subtypes of schizophrenia: The winter pregnancy phenomenon

Gallagher, Bernard; McFalls, Joseph A.; Pisa, Anthony M.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-4679(199907)55:7<915::aid-jclp12>3.0.co;2-5

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…There is substantial evidence associating winter birth with increased risk of non-deficit or type I schizophrenia, which makes up around 85% of cases (Boyd et al, 1986;Gallagher et al, 1999;McGrath and Welham, 1999;Mortenson et al, 1999;Messias et al, 2004). There is some evidence that those born autumn have the lowest risk of developing multiple sclerosis, whereas those born in spring have an increased risk (James, 1995;Willer et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation of nutrient intake in pregnancy: effects on infant measures and possible influence on diseases related to season of birth

Watson

McDonald

2007

Eur J Clin Nutr

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Objectives: To determine, firstly, if there was any seasonal effect on nutrient intake during pregnancy and birth measures, secondly, if there was any relationship between maternal nutrient intake and infant birth measures according to season and thirdly, to consider the hypothesis that seasonal change in nutrient intake during pregnancy might affect health in later life of some women's offspring. Design: Pilot study to determine number of days required to characterize group intake followed by a prospective cohort study. Setting: Patients attending a city ante-natal clinic in the lower North Island, New Zealand. Subjects: A total of 214 healthy mostly European pregnant women volunteers, entering the second trimester of pregnancy, of whom 10 miscarried and seven withdrew. Methods: Subjects were visited in months 4 and 7 of pregnancy, and months 2, 6 and 12 after birth. Height, weight and skinfolds were measured and questionnaires to determine personal details administered at these times. Subjects recorded 8 days of weighed diets in both the fourth and seventh month. Health records were used to supply infant measures. Results: Significant (Pp0.05) seasonal variations in fat, carbohydrate, vitamin C and D, B vitamins, b-carotene, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, sulfur, sodium, chloride, zinc and selenium intakes were found. No significant 'main effect' difference in gestational age, infant birthweight, and head circumference was found with season. However, there were significant interactions (Pp0.05) for each birth season between birth measures and specific maternal nutrients at months 4 and 7 of pregnancy. Conclusion: The significant seasonal variations in nutrient intake in pregnant women, and significant influence of nutrient intake on birth measures in different seasons, suggests seasonal nutrient variation may also affect fetal development at a cellular level. This supports our hypothesis that the development of conditions related to season of birth, including schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes and longevity, may be influenced by seasonal variation in nutrient intake during pregnancy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation of nutrient intake in pregnancy: effects on infant measures and possible influence on diseases related to season of birth

Watson

McDonald

2007

Eur J Clin Nutr

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“…The etiology of the schizophrenia nasal volume decrement, and when it occurs, are both unknown. However, given the time course of nasal cavity development and its overlap with a period of substantial embryological risk for schizophrenia (Cantor-Graae et al, 1994;Gallagher et al, 1999;Hulshoff et al, 2000), this volume decrement could denote a disturbance in early embryological development that contributes to schizophrenia vulnerability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced posterior nasal cavity volume: A gender-specific neurodevelopmental abnormality in schizophrenia

Turetsky

Glass

Abbazia

et al. 2007

Schizophrenia Research

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Objective-We previously reported that men with schizophrenia had reduced volumes of the posterior nasal cavity bilaterally. Since the nasal cavities develop in conjunction with both the palate and ventral forebrain, this could represent a simple marker of embryological dysmorphogenesis contributing to schizophrenia. The current study expands on this finding by examining a larger sample of both male and female patients and unaffected 1 st -degree relatives, to determine the gender distribution of this abnormality and the extent to which it may be genetically mediated.Method-A measurement of nasal volume and geometry was acquired by acoustic rhinometry for 85 schizophrenia patients, 25 unaffected first-degree relatives of schizophrenia probands and 66 healthy comparison subjects.Results-Male patients had smaller posterior nasal volumes than both male control subjects and male relatives. However, female patients did not differ from either female controls or female family members. Unaffected first-degree relatives did not differ from same-sex control subjects. These findings persisted after covarying for height and smoking history, and were unrelated to clinical symptomatology or antipsychotic medication usage.Conclusion-Posterior nasal cavity volume decrement appears to be a specific developmental craniofacial abnormality that may reflect an early disruption in embryological development in males with schizophrenia. Although further study is needed, this may be a marker of a "second hit" that distinguishes genetically vulnerable men who go on to develop the illness from those who do not.

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“…The relationship between subtypes of schizophrenia and seasonality of birth resulted in what we titled the "winter pregnancy phenomenon" [15]. We speculated that the finding might be linked to insults (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%