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Parental factors affecting the weights of the placenta and the offspring

Carianne L'Abée1, Ingrid Vrieze, Tom Kluck

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. c.abee@bkk.umcg.nl

Journal of Perinatal Medicine
|October 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Both paternal and maternal factors influence placental and offspring birth weight. Maternal factors like pre-pregnancy BMI and diabetes are independent predictors for placental weight, while maternal weight gain and smoking impact offspring birth weight.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Perinatal medicine
  • Human genetics

Background:

  • Placental and offspring birth weight are critical indicators of fetal development and long-term health.
  • Understanding the influence of parental factors on these metrics is crucial for identifying potential interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between parental factors, specifically paternal influences, and the weight of the placenta and offspring.
  • To identify independent predictors of placental and offspring birth weight.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based birth-cohort study involving 2947 singleton births in Drenthe, The Netherlands.
  • Data collection included placental weight, birth weight, and parental information via questionnaires.
  • Statistical analysis employed univariate and multivariate linear regression models.

Main Results:

  • Paternal birth weight and father's body mass index (BMI) were associated with placental and offspring birth weight, but not as independent predictors.
  • Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, birth weight, and diabetes were identified as independent predictors of placental weight.
  • Maternal weight gain during pregnancy, birth weight, smoking during pregnancy, and diabetes independently predicted offspring birth weight.

Conclusions:

  • Both paternal and maternal factors significantly influence placental and offspring birth weight.
  • Maternal factors play a more prominent role as independent predictors for both placental and offspring birth weight.
Abstract

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