The relationship of birthweight, muscle size at birth and post-natal growth to grip strength in 9-year-old Indian children: findings from the Mysore Parthenon study

Abstract

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.

Birth weight and muscle strength: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The mean age of participants varied between studies and was 20 or below (range 5.1 to 17.7) in eight studies (18,19,21,23-27), between 21 and 40 (range 20.9 to 36.5) in seven studies (5,22,28-32) and 41 or above (range 53.0 to 67.5) in the remaining four studies (6,7,9,33). Grip strength was used as a single measure of muscle strength in the majority of studies (n=15).…”

“…We also asked for information on any other relevant published research and this yielded one further paper (19) which had not been indexed by either of the databases searched.…”

Sibling composition and children's anthropometric indicators of nutritional status: Evidence from native Amazonians in Bolivia

“…The maternal immune reaction against male-specific H-Y antigens initiated after a pregnancy with a boy may cause inflammatory processes leading to insufficient placental function and consequently low-birth weight (Bartha et al 2003;Nielsen et al 2008). In turn, low-birth weight has been associated with lower AMA at birth, reduced grip strength and reduced fat mass in young children (Fewtrell et al 2004;Barr et al 2010). Yet others suggest that morbidity and socioeconomic factors rather than birth-weight are greater determinants of children's arm anthropometrics (Lima et al 2011).…”

The Double Burden of Undernutrition and Overnutrition in Developing Countries: an Update

“…[61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68]. Poor prenatal dietary intakes of energy, protein, and micronutrients were significantly associated with an increased risk of adult obesity in offspring [22].…”