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[Association between birth cohort and the heritability of body mass index]
Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the varying variances of the genetic components in birth cohorts. Methods: Twin samples used in the current study were collected from the Chinese National Twin Registry and a two-wave study was conducted, in Qingdao and Lishui regions. Samples were broken down by birth cohort to create four subgroups: -1958, 1959-1961, 1962-1970 and 1970-. Structural equation models were fitted in each subgroup to estimate the genetic and environmental variances. Results: From each birth cohort, weight and body mass index in 2012 appeared higher than those in 2001. Twins of 1971- cohort subgroup showed lower weight than in the other cohort subgroups. Except for the 1959-1961 cohort subgroup, the later birth cohorts were inversely related to the body mass indexes. Genetic factors might explain 54%-76% of the total variations on the body mass index. Heritability of body mass index of twins born during 1959-1961 was increasing along with age. Conclusion: Genetic factors might explain the main portion which related to the phenotypic variance of body mass index. Effects of genetic factors on body mass index of twins born during 1959-1961 might have increased along with age.
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