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Health costs of reproduction are minimal despite high fertility, mortality and subsistence lifestyle.

ABSTRACT: Women exhibit greater morbidity than men despite higher life expectancy. An evolutionary life history framework predicts that energy invested in reproduction trades-off against investments in maintenance and survival. Direct costs of reproduction may therefore contribute to higher morbidity, especially for women given their greater direct energetic contributions to reproduction. We explore multiple indicators of somatic condition among Tsimane forager-horticulturalist women (Total Fertility Rate?=?9.1; n?=? 592 aged 15-44 years, n?=?277 aged 45+). We test whether cumulative live births and the pace of reproduction are associated with nutritional status and immune function using longitudinal data spanning 10 years. Higher parity and faster reproductive pace are associated with lower nutritional status (indicated by weight, body mass index, body fat) in a cross-section, but longitudinal analyses show improvements in women's nutritional status with age. Biomarkers of immune function and anemia vary little with parity or pace of reproduction. Our findings demonstrate that even under energy-limited and infectious conditions, women are buffered from the potential depleting effects of rapid reproduction and compound offspring dependency characteristic of human life histories.

SUBMITTER: Gurven M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4951795 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Health costs of reproduction are minimal despite high fertility, mortality and subsistence lifestyle.

Gurven Michael M Costa Megan M Ben Trumble Stieglitz Jonathan J Beheim Bret B Eid Rodriguez Daniel D Hooper Paul L PL Kaplan Hillard H

Scientific reports 20160720

Women exhibit greater morbidity than men despite higher life expectancy. An evolutionary life history framework predicts that energy invested in reproduction trades-off against investments in maintenance and survival. Direct costs of reproduction may therefore contribute to higher morbidity, especially for women given their greater direct energetic contributions to reproduction. We explore multiple indicators of somatic condition among Tsimane forager-horticulturalist women (Total Fertility Rate ...[more]

PMID: 27436412

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Project description:BackgroundMaternal age < 18 or > 34 years, short inter-pregnancy birth interval, and higher birth order are considered to be high-risk fertility behaviours (HRFB). Underfive mortality being disproportionately concentrated in Asia and Africa, this study analyses the association between HRFB and underfive mortality in selected Asian and African countries.MethodsThis study used Integrated Public Microdata Series-Demographic and Health Surveys (IPUMS-DHS) data from 32 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, North Africa and South Asia from 1986 to 2017 (N = 1,467,728). Previous evidence hints at four markers of HRFB: women's age at birth of index child < 18 or > 34 years, preceding birth interval < 24 months and child's birth order > 3. Using logistic regression, we analysed change in the odds of underfive mortality as a result of i) exposure to HRFB individually, ii) exposure to any single HRFB risk factor, iii) exposure to multiple HRFB risk factors, and iv) exposure to specific combinations of HRFB risk factors.ResultsMother's age at birth of index child < 18 years and preceding birth interval (PBI) < 24 months were significant risk factors of underfive mortality, while a child's birth order > 3 was a protective factor. Presence of any single HRFB was associated with 7% higher risk of underfive mortality (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.04-1.09). Presence of multiple HRFBs was associated with 39% higher risk of underfive mortality (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.36-1.43). Some specific combinations of HRFB such as maternal age < 18 years and preceding birth interval < 24 month significantly increased the odds of underfive mortality (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.88-2.28).ConclusionMaternal age < 18 years and short preceding birth interval significantly increase the risk of underfive mortality. This highlights the need for an effective legislation to curb child marriages and increased public investment in reproductive healthcare with a focus on higher contraceptive use for optimal birth spacing.

Project description:BackgroundDiet is a modifiable lifestyle factor linked with fertility in a growing number of studies.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary energy density (ED), a summary measure of diet quality that estimates the amount of energy per unit food (kcal/g) consumed, and conception and pregnancy outcomes.MethodsA prospective cohort study of couples planning their first pregnancy was conducted in the Northeast region of the USA. Dietary data were collected prior to conception via 3 unannounced interviewer-administered 24-h dietary recalls. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression (ORs and Cox proportional hazards models [RR] and 95% CIs) were estimated for continuous and categorical (tertile [T]) variables of dietary ED.ResultsThe majority of women (n = 80; 61%) achieved clinical pregnancy. Median time to conception of a clincal pregnancy(TTC) for those who conceived was 4.64 mo with an IQR of 4.37 mo. ED modeled as a continuous variable was not associated with clinical pregnancy, live birth, or TTC after controlling for race, physical activity, and male partner's ED. When ED was categorized to consider nonlinear associations, 60%, 73%, and 50% of the participants in the tertiles (from lowest ED to highest) achieved clinical pregnancy. In multivariable logistic analyses with the middle group as the referent (ED = 1.37-1.60), membership in the highest ED group (ED >1.60) was associated with lower odds of clinical pregnancy (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.81, P = 0.02). In Cox proportional hazards analyses, membership in the highest ED group was associated with significantly longer TTC compared with the middle category (HR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.21,0.82, P = 0.01).ConclusionsThese results suggest that high dietary ED is associated with reduced fertility.This study evaluated associations between dietary energy density and the probability of conceiving clinical pregnancy, having a live birth, and the time to conception among couples planning pregnancy.

Project description:STUDY QUESTION:Are Australian fertility clinics adequately addressing unhealthy lifestyle in patients seeking fertility treatment? SUMMARY ANSWER:This study has highlighted deficiencies in practices and education around managing patients with unhealthy lifestyle undergoing fertility treatment. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY:The association between lifestyle and fertility is well documented, with obesity and smoking being of particular concern to fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Guidelines recommend that unhealthy lifestyle is addressed prior to conception, yet anecdotal experience suggests this is not being addressed. Lifestyle modification programmes can be effective in improving pregnancy rates and outcomes, however, recruitment to such programmes can be challenging. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION:A cohort study of Australian fertility clinics' attitudes and practices regarding lifestyle modification to augment reproductive treatment outcomes was conducted between August and October 2015. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHOD:An online survey was administered to senior fertility nurses, from all registered fertility clinics in Australia. Data were collated and subjected to a univariate data analysis, where frequency tables were produced for each question. A separate qualitative analysis was undertaken of data from open ended questions. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE:Fifty-three out of 85 potential respondents (62.4%), all from different clincis, completed the survey, with almost all acknowledging the importance of addressing unhealthy lifestyle before offering ART treatment. However, most clinics did not offer internal resources to assist with lifestyle modification. Whilst the promotion of healthy lifestyle was recognised as a key component of the role of a fertility nurse, participants did not feel that nurses were best equipped to provide lifestyle modification programmes, owing to a lack of resources and specific skills in this area. Suggested areas for improved practice included prioritising general health prior to offering treatment, and further utilising and upskilling nurses to assist with lifestyle modification programmes. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION:The survey was completed by only one nurse from each clinic and as such may not be entirely representative of all clinic practices. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS:Fertility clinics are likely to see an increasing number of patients with unhealthy lifestyle, resulting in health concerns such as obesity. The results of this study provide an insight into how unhealthy lifestyle is currently being addressed in fertility clinics and suggested areas that could be targeted for improving practice and outcomes. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS:No conflict of interest to declare. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:NA.

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Health costs of reproduction are minimal despite high fertility, mortality and subsistence lifestyle.

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Health costs of reproduction are minimal despite high fertility, mortality and subsistence lifestyle.

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