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Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid
Published on: August 8, 2017
Changes in genetic and environmental effects on growth during infancy
Robbert N Touwslager1, Marij Gielen, Antonius L Mulder
1Department of Pediatrics, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Netherlands. bob.touwslager@mumc.nl
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|November 11, 2011
Summary
Genetic factors significantly influence infant growth after the first month, with high heritability observed from 1 to 24 months. Early interventions targeting infant growth in the first month may be most effective for long-term health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Human Genetics
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Accelerated infant growth is linked to adult disease risk.
- Understanding infant growth patterns is crucial for long-term health.
- Genetic and environmental factors influence early development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the heritability of infant growth.
- To investigate how genetic contributions to growth vary with birth weight and gestational age.
- To inform the timing of health interventions for infants.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed growth (weight z-score changes) in 522 infants.
- Utilized data from the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey.
- Employed structural equation modeling to assess genetic and environmental influences across different age windows (0-1, 1-6, 6-12, 12-24 months).
Main Results:
- No significant genetic contribution to growth was observed in the 0-1 month period.
- Heritability of infant growth was high from 1 to 6 months (94%), 6 to 12 months (85%), and 12 to 24 months (86%).
- Genetic contribution in the first month was low for average birth weight but higher at birth weight extremes, and increased with gestational age from 36 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Genetic factors play a minimal role in infant growth during the first month of life.
- Significant heritability of infant growth emerges after the first month.
- Nutritional and other interventions aimed at improving long-term health through early growth may be most effective if implemented within the first postnatal month.
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