Dataset Information

Genetic and environmental factors affecting birth size variation: a pooled individual-based analysis of secular trends and global geographical differences using 26 twin cohorts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The genetic architecture of birth size may differ geographically and over time. We examined differences in the genetic and environmental contributions to birthweight, length and ponderal index (PI) across geographical-cultural regions (Europe, North America and Australia, and East Asia) and across birth cohorts, and how gestational age modifies these effects.

Methods

Data from 26 twin cohorts in 16 countries including 57 613 monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs were pooled. Genetic and environmental variations of birth size were estimated using genetic structural equation modelling.

Results

The variance of birthweight and length was predominantly explained by shared environmental factors, whereas the variance of PI was explained both by shared and unique environmental factors. Genetic variance contributing to birth size was small. Adjusting for gestational age decreased the proportions of shared environmental variance and increased the propositions of unique environmental variance. Genetic variance was similar in the geographical-cultural regions, but shared environmental variance was smaller in East Asia than in Europe and North America and Australia. The total variance and shared environmental variance of birth length and PI were greater from the birth cohort 1990-99 onwards compared with the birth cohorts from 1970-79 to 1980-89.

Conclusions

The contribution of genetic factors to birth size is smaller than that of shared environmental factors, which is partly explained by gestational age. Shared environmental variances of birth length and PI were greater in the latest birth cohorts and differed also across geographical-cultural regions. Shared environmental factors are important when explaining differences in the variation of birth size globally and over time.

SUBMITTER: Yokoyama Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6124623 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Genetic and environmental factors affecting birth size variation: a pooled individual-based analysis of secular trends and global geographical differences using 26 twin cohorts.

Yokoyama Yoshie Y Jelenkovic Aline A Hur Yoon-Mi YM Sund Reijo R Fagnani Corrado C Stazi Maria A MA Brescianini Sonia S Ji Fuling F Ning Feng F Pang Zengchang Z Knafo-Noam Ariel A Mankuta David D Abramson Lior L Rebato Esther E Hopper John L JL Cutler Tessa L TL Saudino Kimberly J KJ Nelson Tracy L TL Whitfield Keith E KE Corley Robin P RP Huibregtse Brooke M BM Derom Catherine A CA Vlietinck Robert F RF Loos Ruth J F RJF Llewellyn Clare H CH Fisher Abigail A Bjerregaard-Andersen Morten M Beck-Nielsen Henning H Sodemann Morten M Krueger Robert F RF McGue Matt M Pahlen Shandell S Bartels Meike M van Beijsterveldt Catharina E M CEM Willemsen Gonneke G Harris Jennifer R JR Brandt Ingunn I Nilsen Thomas S TS Craig Jeffrey M JM Saffery Richard R Dubois Lise L Boivin Michel M Brendgen Mara M Dionne Ginette G Vitaro Frank F Haworth Claire M A CMA Plomin Robert R Bayasgalan Gombojav G Narandalai Danshiitsoodol D Rasmussen Finn F Tynelius Per P Tarnoki Adam D AD Tarnoki David L DL Ooki Syuichi S Rose Richard J RJ Pietiläinen Kirsi H KH Sørensen Thorkild I A TIA Boomsma Dorret I DI Kaprio Jaakko J Silventoinen Karri K

International journal of epidemiology 20180801 4

<h4>Background</h4>The genetic architecture of birth size may differ geographically and over time. We examined differences in the genetic and environmental contributions to birthweight, length and ponderal index (PI) across geographical-cultural regions (Europe, North America and Australia, and East Asia) and across birth cohorts, and how gestational age modifies these effects.<h4>Methods</h4>Data from 26 twin cohorts in 16 countries including 57 613 monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs were poo ...[more]

PMID: 29788280

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Dataset Information

Genetic and environmental factors affecting birth size variation: a pooled individual-based analysis of secular trends and global geographical differences using 26 twin cohorts.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Genetic and environmental factors affecting birth size variation: a pooled individual-based analysis of secular trends and global geographical differences using 26 twin cohorts.

Similar Datasets

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