Pubertal anthropometry in sons and daughters of women with preeclamptic or normotensive pregnancies

Abstract

The higher BMI and larger waist of daughters of women with preeclampsia was only present if their mothers were obese. These results suggest that preeclampsia in obese women may lead to a distinct disadvantage in body size for their daughters in early puberty.

In utero preeclampsia exposure, milk intake and pubertal development

“…Similarly there were no differences in the ages at which children started and stopped receiving infant formula, began receiving solid foods and began receiving cow's milk by sex and PE status (data not shown). There were no differences observed in baseline maternal or birth characteristics between those who consented to participate at first follow-up and those who did not [25]. There were no differences in anthropometric measurements at followup, infant feeding practices or childhood dietary variables between those lost to follow-up at 12.9 years and those who completed both visits except that there was a marginally significant difference in the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding (46.8% exclusively breastfed and 48.9% fed both breast milk and formula among those lost to follow up vs. 56.7% and 35.1% among those who participated, p = 0.06).…”

“…Only 3 mothers who breastfed exclusively reported breastfeeding for fewer than 6 months, limiting analysis of breastfeeding duration in this group. The association of PE exposure and pubertal development may also be affected by maternal BMI; in a separate analysis of our sample, daughters of PE pregnancies from obese women had higher BMI and larger waist and hip circumferences whereas no such differences were evident when comparing PE and NT daughters of normal weight or overweight mothers [25].…”

Maternal Preeclampsia and Androgens in the Offspring around Puberty: A Follow-Up Study

“…For example, it is conceivable that eligible participants who declined to participate may differ from those who attended with respect to anthropometric and developmental factors. [16] In this regard, however, it is reassuring that attendance at follow-up did not substantially differ between the exposed and unexposed groups, and that the proportion of attendees among the exposed and unexposed groups did not differ by perinatal characteristics.…”

“…There were no differences in baseline characteristics, including maternal age, weight or height, and no differences in frequency or clinical severity of preeclampsia between those who attended and those who did not attend the follow-up. [16,17]…”

In utero programming of pubertal development?

“…The severity of pre-eclampsia was positively associated with pubarche occurring before thelarche. In a previous paper from this cohort, the authors reported higher BMI and larger waist circumference in the offspring of pre-eclamptic pregnancies, but only when the mothers were obese 2. The authors hypothesise that the lowered breast cancer risk in daughters of women with pre-eclampsia could be linked to the relative androgen dominance represented by the pubarche pathway.…”