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Factors affecting fetal growth and body composition
P M Catalano1, N M Drago, S B Amini
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, USA.
Insights
Gestational age, neonatal sex, and parity significantly influence fetal growth, impacting birth weight, fat-free mass, and fat mass differently. These factors highlight the interplay of genetic and environmental influences on fetal development.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Human Physiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Fetal growth is a complex process influenced by numerous factors.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for identifying potential growth abnormalities.
- Birth weight and body composition are key indicators of fetal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors influencing fetal growth, specifically birth weight and body composition.
- To analyze the relationship between maternal, paternal, and neonatal characteristics and fetal growth parameters.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 183 singleton infants underwent assessment of birth weight and body composition within 24 hours of birth.
- Independent variables included maternal (height, weight, pregravid weight, weight gain, education, parity), paternal (height, weight), and neonatal (sex, gestational age) factors.
- Stepwise regression analysis was employed to determine the correlation between independent variables and fetal growth metrics.
Main Results:
- Males exhibited higher birth weight and fat-free mass compared to females, though fat mass did not differ significantly.
- Gestational age was the strongest predictor of birth weight (R²=0.10), neonatal sex for fat-free mass (R²=0.08), and parity for fat mass (R²=0.08).
- The analyzed variables accounted for 29% of birth weight variation, 30% of fat-free mass variation, and 17% of fat mass variation.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that diverse genetic and environmental factors can modulate fetal growth.
- These factors appear to influence the differential development of fetal fat and fat-free mass.
- This supports the concept of multifactorial influences on fetal growth trajectories.
Objective:
Our purpose was to identify factors affecting fetal growth with birth weight and body composition.
Study Design:
A total of 183 singleton infants had birth weights and estimates of body composition performed within 24 hours of birth. Independent variables included were (1) maternal height, weight, pregravid weight, weight gain, education, and parity, (2) paternal height and weight, and (3) neonatal sex and gestational age. Best-fit stepwise regression analysis was used to correlate the independent variables with birth weight, fat-free mass, and fat mass.
Results:
Compared with females, males had greater birth weight (p = 0.009) and fat-free mass (p = 0.0001) but not fat mass (p = 0.32). The strongest predictors were gestational age with birth weight (R2 = 0.10), neonatal sex with fat-free mass (R2 = 0.08), and parity with fat mass (R2 = 0.08). By use of the significant independent variables we explained 29% of the variation in birth weight, 30% in fat-free mass, and 17% in fat mass.
Conclusion:
These data support the concept that various genetic and environmental factors may modify fetal growth by differentially affecting growth of fetal fat and fat-free mass.