Maternal milk consumption, birth size and adult height of offspring: A prospective cohort study with 20 years of follow-up

Background/objectives:Previous studies have suggested that milk consumption during pregnancy may have growth-promoting effects on the offspring in utero. Whether this effect tracks beyond the prenatal period remains unclear. We examined whether milk consumption during pregnancy is associated with infant size at birth and offspring's height-and growth-related biomarkers at ∼20 years of age.Subject/methods:A prospective cohort of 809 Danish pregnant women was recruited in 1988-1989, with offspring follow-up at ∼20 years of age (n=685). Milk consumption was assessed at gestational week 30 using a food frequency questionnaire. Birth weight and birth length were measured according to standard procedures at delivery and converted to specific z-scores, adjusted for gestational age and gender.Results:In adjusted models, maternal milk consumption of ≥150 ml/day vs