Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

9.6K

Maternal BMI, early-life growth, and atopic dermatitis by age 3 years

Frida Victoria Berents1, Marius Kurås Skram2,3,4, Karin C Lødrup Carlsen2,3

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Global
|April 21, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and longer birth length are linked to a higher risk of childhood atopic dermatitis. However, short birth length may reduce the risk of developing this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric dermatology
  • Maternal and child health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) associations with maternal factors like prepregnancy body mass index (ppBMI) and newborn anthropometrics remain unclear.
  • Previous research suggests a link between gestational weight gain and AD, but the influence of ppBMI and fetal measurements requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal ppBMI and offspring atopic dermatitis by age 3 years.
  • To examine the relationship between fetal growth, newborn anthropometric measurements, and the development of atopic dermatitis in children.

Main Methods:

  • The study analyzed data from 2107 mother-child pairs in the Scandinavian PreventADALL cohort.
  • Maternal ppBMI was recorded at midpregnancy; fetal anthropometrics (thoracic/abdominal circumference, weight, length) were measured via ultrasound at midpregnancy and birth.
  • Atopic dermatitis diagnosis was conducted using standard criteria at multiple time points up to 36 months of age.

Main Results:

  • A diagnosis of atopic dermatitis by age 3 years occurred in 25% of children (n=525).
  • Increasing maternal ppBMI (per unit increase) was associated with a higher risk of AD (aOR=1.03).
  • Increased birth length correlated with higher AD risk (aOR=1.06), while short birth length (<48 cm) showed an inverse association (aOR=0.71).

Conclusions:

  • Maternal prepregnancy BMI and offspring birth length are significant predictors of childhood atopic dermatitis risk.
  • While longer birth length increases AD risk, shorter birth length appears protective.
  • Fetal growth parameters and most newborn anthropometrics were not significantly associated with atopic dermatitis development.
Abstract

Keywords:
BMIPreventADALLanthropometricsatopic dermatitisfetal growth

More Related Videos

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach09:32

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach

Published on: September 26, 2019

6.6K
Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment06:47

Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment

Published on: September 27, 2017

9.3K

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from...
58
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
1.2K
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
64.6K
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
1.4K
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
58
Acne Infection01:27

Acne Infection

Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...
81