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Early weight gain and the development of asthma and atopy in children

Gustavo F Wandalsen1, Herberto J Chong-Neto, Fabíola S de Souza

  • 1aFederal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil bFederal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil cABC Medical School, Santo André, Brazil dWashington University School of Medicine eSt. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|January 24, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Rapid weight gain in infancy is linked to childhood asthma. This modifiable risk factor suggests potential for early intervention to prevent asthma development in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Early life factors significantly influence the development of chronic childhood diseases.
  • Asthma is a prevalent respiratory condition in children, with multifactorial etiology.
  • Understanding modifiable risk factors is crucial for effective asthma prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent evidence on the association between early infant weight gain and childhood asthma and atopy.
  • To explore potential biological mechanisms linking early weight gain to respiratory outcomes.
  • To provide a current perspective on this public health concern.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of recent birth cohort studies.
  • Analysis of data from over 25,000 children.
  • Synthesis of findings regarding weight gain trajectories and asthma incidence.

Main Results:

  • Consistent association observed between early weight gain (first 2 years) and incident asthma in school-aged children.
  • Proposed mechanisms include impaired lung development and altered growth factor/cytokine profiles.
  • Early weight gain linked to preschool wheezing but not atopy development.

Conclusions:

  • Early infant weight gain is a significant, modifiable risk factor for childhood asthma.
  • This finding opens avenues for preventive interventions targeting infant growth.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate mechanisms and impact on asthma phenotypes.
Abstract

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