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Maternal pre-pregnancy underweight is associated with underweight and low bone mass in school-aged children
Yuki Fujita1, Katsuyasu Kouda2, Kumiko Ohara3
1Department of Public Health, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Oono-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan. yfujita@med.kindai.ac.jp.
Insights
Maternal underweight status before pregnancy increases the risk of underweight children and low bone mass in offspring. This study highlights the importance of maternal pre-pregnancy nutritional status for child health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Maternal overweight status is linked to offspring obesity, but maternal underweight status effects are less understood.
- Few studies explore the association between maternal pre-pregnancy underweight status and offspring health outcomes.
- This study investigates the impact of maternal underweight status on offspring health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy underweight status on offspring health.
- To examine offspring underweight status as a primary outcome.
- To evaluate offspring low bone mass as a secondary outcome.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study (2008-2011) of fifth-graders in Hamamatsu and Fukuroi.
- Data collected from Maternal and Child Health Handbook and direct measurements.
- Offspring bone mineral content (BMC) measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Main Results:
- Maternal pre-pregnancy underweight status was associated with a higher risk of underweight status in female offspring (OR=2.88).
- Offspring in the underweight mother group exhibited significantly lower total body less head bone mineral content (TBLH BMC).
Conclusions:
- Pre-pregnancy underweight status in mothers is linked to increased likelihood of underweight status in school-aged offspring.
- Maternal underweight status before pregnancy is associated with reduced offspring TBLH BMC.
Introduction:
A number of studies have reported that pre-pregnancy overweight status is associated with offspring obesity, yet only a few studies have examined pre-pregnancy underweight status as it associates with offspring health. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of pre-pregnancy underweight status in a mother on health outcomes in her offspring. To this end, the primary outcome examined in the present study was underweight status in the offspring, with a secondary outcome of offspring low bone mass.
Materials And Methods:
The present retrospective cohort study, conducted from 2008 to 2011, targeted a source population of all students registered as fifth-graders at three public elementary schools in Hamamatsu and Fukuroi cities. Maternal height and weight before and after pregnancy and offspring weight and height at birth were obtained from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook. Offspring weight and height at age 10 years were measured using standard procedures. Offspring total body less head (TBLH) bone mineral content (BMC) was determined with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner.
Results:
Pre-pregnancy underweight status was found to be associated with an increased risk of an underweight status in female offspring (OR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.06-7.81). Offspring TBLH BMC in the underweight mother group was significantly lower than that in the non-underweight mother group.
Conclusions:
We determined that pre-pregnancy underweight status was more likely to lead to an underweight status and low TBLH BMC in school-aged offspring.
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