 |
|
Heavy birthweight babies twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis
June 30, 2008Is birthweight associated with risk of rheumatoid arthritis? Data from a large cohort study
Heavy birthweight female babies are twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis in adulthood as their average birthweight peers, suggests research published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
The results support the fetal origin of disease theory, which argues that certain conditions and diseases in adult life are programmed by factors during the pregnancy.
Diabetes, coronary heart disease, and high blood pressure, for example, have been linked to low birthweight, while an increased risk of breast cancer and leukaemia have been linked to high birthweight.
The findings are based on over 87,000 women taking part in the US Nurses' Health Study between 1976 and 2002. All the participants were aged between 30 and 55 at the start of the study in 1976.
Every two years, the women were quizzed about their health, lifestyle, and family illness. And in 1992 they were asked to provide information on their birthweight.
During the study period, 619 women were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for the first time.
Women who weighed more than 4.54 kg at birth were twice as likely to develop the autoimmune disease as those who weighed between the average of 3.2 to 3.85 kg at birth.
The results held true even after taking account of factors likely to influence the baby's birthweight.
These included socioeconomic status, parental smoking, maternal diabetes, age at first period, use of oral contraceptives or HRT, breastfeeding and weight.
There is no obvious biological explanation for the findings, say the authors. But adults with rheumatoid arthritis have abnormal hormone regulation, and it is thought that this process may be triggered while in the womb.
Although completely speculative, they go on to suggest that if the risk of rheumatoid arthritis could be lessened during pregnancy, altering the mother's diet could open up an exciting avenue for prevention.
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Diabetes, coronary heart disease, and high blood pressure, for example, have been linked to low birthweight, while an increased risk of breast cancer and leukaemia have been linked to high birthweight.
The findings are based on over 87,000 women taking part in the US Nurses' Health Study between 1976 and 2002. All the participants were aged between 30 and 55 at the start of the study in 1976.
Every two years, the women were quizzed about their health, lifestyle, and family illness. And in 1992 they were asked to provide information on their birthweight.
During the study period, 619 women were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for the first time.
Women who weighed more than 4.54 kg at birth were twice as likely to develop the autoimmune disease as those who weighed between the average of 3.2 to 3.85 kg at birth.
The results held true even after taking account of factors likely to influence the baby's birthweight.
These included socioeconomic status, parental smoking, maternal diabetes, age at first period, use of oral contraceptives or HRT, breastfeeding and weight.
There is no obvious biological explanation for the findings, say the authors. But adults with rheumatoid arthritis have abnormal hormone regulation, and it is thought that this process may be triggered while in the womb.
Although completely speculative, they go on to suggest that if the risk of rheumatoid arthritis could be lessened during pregnancy, altering the mother's diet could open up an exciting avenue for prevention.
BMJ-British Medical Journal
Birthweight News and Current Birthweight Events RSSPreterm birth contributes to growing number of infant deaths
Babies born too soon and too small accounted for a growing proportion of infant deaths, according to new statistics released today from the National Center for Health Statistics, (NCHS).
Heavy birthweight increases risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis
People who have a birthweight over 10 pounds are twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis when they are adults compared to individuals born with an average birthweight.
Little evidence that binge drinking while pregnant seriously harms fetus
There is little substantive evidence that binge drinking while pregnant seriously harms the developing fetus, finds a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Fat mum hastens path to childhood obesity
A fat mother hastens a child's path to obesity, finds a study published ahead of print in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Children born after PGD as healthy as those born after conventional IVF treatment
Children born after embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) do not show any more major malformations than those born after artificial reproduction technologies (ART) without PGD.
Temple University Hospital investigates treatment for cervical dysplasia
Temple University Hospital's Center For Women's Health is participating in a national study to determine the safety and effectiveness of an investigational treatment for cervical dysplasia.
American Physiological Society
A new study concludes that low birthweight babies born with low sodium (salt) in their blood serum will likely consume large quantities of dietary sodium later in life.
Scientists sequence genome of parasite responsible for common sexually transmitted infection
Researchers have decoded the genetic makeup of the parasite that causes trichomoniasis, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), revealing potential clues as to why the parasite has become increasingly drug resistant and suggesting possible pathways for new treatments, diagnostics and a potential vaccine strategy.
Inflammatory bowel disease doubles risk of pregnancy complications
Inflammatory bowel disease roughly doubles the chances of pregnancy complications, reveals research published ahead of print in Gut.
Restricted fetal growth increases risk of irritable bowel syndrome
Babies weighing less than the standard weight seem to be at significantly greater risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, suggests research published ahead of print in the journal Gut.
More Birthweight News Articles
 | The Tiniest Warrior of All: A Fairytale for Families with a Premature Baby by Nicola JD Maher When a healthy baby is born, everyone is quick to share in the celebration. When something goes wrong however, it can be hard to find words. 'The Tiniest Warrior of All' charts the epic battle of a premature baby sent on a quest to find her true home. When her time-machine crashes, she is cared for by a cast of wizards, sorcerers and bodyguards, all of whom help her to fulfil her destiny. ... |
 | The Enemy Within: The High Cost of Living Near Nuclear Reactors : Breast Cancer, AIDS, Low Birthweights, And Other Radiation-induced Immune Deficiency Effects by Ernest J. Sternglass, Joseph J. Mangano, William McDonnell |
 | Evan Early by Rebecca Hogue Wojahn For siblings, the happy anticipation of the birth of a new brother or sister can turn to worry and confusion when the baby is born prematurely. This is the set-up for the new children's book, Evan Early. Natalie, the book's narrator, has just become a "big sister," and the story begins with her proudly announcing, "I have a new brother. His name is Evan Earl. But he doesn't live with us, not... |
 | The Psychological Development of Low Birthweight Children (Advances in Applied Developmental Psychology) |
| Low Birthweight: Country, Regional and Global Estimates | |
| Unequal at Birth: Inequalities in the Occurrence of Low Birthweight Babies in Ireland | |
| Risk factors for low birthweight babies: The Arizona experience, 1969 to 1983 (Research notes / Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Policy and Planning) by Joanne Gersten | |
 | Treatment Costs for Very Low Birthweight Infants by Jeannette Rogowski This study based on all very low birthweight (VLBW) single live births covered by the state of California's Medicaid program between the years 1984 and 1987, is the largest and most comprehensive to date of treatment costs for this high-risk infant... |
| Fødsler og sociale forhold 1982-1983 =: Social risk factors for low birthweight and infant mortality in Denmark, 1982-1983 (Vitalstatistik) by Lisbeth B Knudsen | |
| Low birthweight PORT by Robert L Goldenberg |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |