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Is maternal malnutrition associated with a low sex ratio at birth?
1Centre Medical, Gamboula, Central African Republic.
Insights
Maternal malnutrition, indicated by short stature and obesity, is linked to a lower male-to-female ratio at birth in rural African populations. This finding suggests nutritional factors may influence offspring sex determination.
Area of Science:
- Human reproductive health
- Anthropology
- Nutritional science
Background:
- The male/female ratio at birth in African populations is influenced by various factors.
- Maternal malnutrition in mammals is linked to low sex ratios at birth, but this has not been studied in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal nutritional status and the sex ratio at birth in a rural African society.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 684 women and 3282 children in a rural African community.
- Assessment of maternal stature and body mass index (BMI) in relation to the sex ratio at birth.
Main Results:
- Short maternal stature was independently associated with a lower sex ratio at birth.
- Maternal obesity was also independently related to a reduced sex ratio at birth.
Conclusions:
- Maternal nutritional status, specifically short stature and obesity, may adversely affect male fetuses, leading to a skewed sex ratio at birth.
- These findings in humans align with animal studies and suggest a need for further investigation into nutritional impacts on sex determination.
Abstract:
The low male/female ratio at birth in African populations has been attributed to a variety of genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. A low sex ratio at birth has been associated with maternal malnutrition in mammals, but this issue has not been studied in humans. In this study we analyzed the relation between maternal nutritional status and sex ratio at birth in 3282 children born to 684 women from a rural African society. Short maternal stature and obesity were independently related to a low sex ratio at birth. These results are consistent with animal experiments that indicate an adverse effect of maternal malnutrition on male fetuses. The results warrant further research in this area.