Paternal contribution to small for gestational age babies: a multicenter prospective study.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive health
• Human physiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Paternal health factors may influence fetal growth.
• Small for gestational age (SGA) infants are associated with increased risks in later life.
• Understanding paternal contributions to SGA is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if fathers of SGA infants exhibit distinct anthropometric and cardiovascular profiles.
• To determine the association between paternal characteristics and the likelihood of fathering an SGA infant.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study (Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints - SCOPE) with 2,002 couples.
• SGA defined as birthweight <10th customized centile.
• Logistic regression analysis adjusted for maternal and paternal confounders.

Main Results:

• Men fathering SGA infants had lower paternal birthweight.
• Increased likelihood of paternal obesity (OR 1.50) and central adiposity (OR 1.53) in fathers of SGA infants.
• No significant association found between elevated paternal blood pressure and SGA.

Conclusions:

• Paternal obesity and central adiposity are novel risk factors associated with the birth of SGA infants.
• This relationship appears independent of maternal factors influencing fetal growth.
• Findings suggest paternal health status plays a significant role in fetal development outcomes.