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Determinants of infant growth in four age windows: a twin study

Robbert N H Touwslager1, Marij Gielen, Catherine Derom

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. bob.touwslager@mumc.nl

The Journal of Pediatrics
|December 15, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Infant growth is influenced by birth weight and gestational age, with environmental factors dominating early on. Genetic factors become increasingly significant as infants mature, impacting long-term growth trajectories.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Human Genetics
  • Environmental Influences on Health

Background:

  • Infant growth is a critical indicator of health and development.
  • Understanding the interplay of genetic and environmental factors is crucial for identifying growth determinants.
  • Previous research has highlighted the importance of early life factors, but longitudinal analyses across different infant age windows are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key determinants influencing infant growth.
  • To analyze the changing contributions of genetic and environmental factors to growth over the first two years of life.
  • To establish a foundation for targeted interventions and counseling regarding infant growth.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 424 twin pairs in the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey.
  • Employed multilevel regression analysis and calculated intrapair growth correlations.
  • Measured infant growth via g/kg/d (0-1 month) and changes in weight z-score (0-24 months).

Main Results:

  • Birth weight and gestational age were significant determinants of infant growth, with effects diminishing over time.
  • Paternal height emerged as a significant positive factor for growth between 12-24 months.
  • The similarity in growth between monozygotic twins increased relative to dizygotic twins from 0-1 month to 12-24 months, indicating a growing genetic influence.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental factors are primary drivers of growth in the first month of life.
  • Genetic factors play an increasingly significant role in infant growth as the child ages.
  • Findings provide insights for age-specific counseling and interventions to manage accelerated growth.
Abstract

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