TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationship between birthweight and blood lipid concentrations in later life
T2 - evidence from the existing literature
AU - Laurén, Liisa
AU - Järvelin, Marjo-Riitta
AU - Elliott, Paul
AU - Sovio, Ulla
AU - Spellman, Anne
AU - McCarthy, Mark
AU - Emmett, Pauline
AU - Rogers, Imogen
AU - Hartikainen, Anna-Liisa
AU - Pouta, Anneli
AU - Hardy, Rebecca
AU - Wadsworth, Michael
AU - Helmsdal, Gunnhild
AU - Olsen, Sjurdur
AU - Bakoula, Chryssa
AU - Lekea, Vasso
AU - Millwood, Iona
AU - Group, EURO-BLCS Study
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that there is a link between fetal growth and chronic diseases later in life. Several studies have shown a negative association between birthweight and cardiovascular diseases, as well as cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Far fewer studies have focused on the association between size at birth and blood lipid concentrations. We have conducted a qualitative assessment of the direction and consistency of the relationship between size at birth and blood lipid concentrations to see whether the suggested relationship between intrauterine growth and cardiovascular diseases is mediated by lipid metabolism.METHODS: A literature search covering the period January 1966 to January 2003 was performed using Medline, Embase, and Web of Science. All papers written in English and reporting the relationship between size at birth and lipid levels in humans were assessed. Bibliographies were searched for further publications.RESULTS: From an initial screen of 1198 references, 39 papers were included involving 28 578 individuals. There was no consistent relationship between size at birth and blood lipid levels; the one exception being triglyceride concentration, which showed statistically significant negative or U-shaped, but not positive, relationships with birthweight.CONCLUSION: This review does not strongly support a link between birthweight and blood lipid levels in later life. However, the research in this area is limited and in order to make any definitive conclusions, longitudinal studies with sufficient power, data, and prospective follow-up are needed.
AB - BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that there is a link between fetal growth and chronic diseases later in life. Several studies have shown a negative association between birthweight and cardiovascular diseases, as well as cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Far fewer studies have focused on the association between size at birth and blood lipid concentrations. We have conducted a qualitative assessment of the direction and consistency of the relationship between size at birth and blood lipid concentrations to see whether the suggested relationship between intrauterine growth and cardiovascular diseases is mediated by lipid metabolism.METHODS: A literature search covering the period January 1966 to January 2003 was performed using Medline, Embase, and Web of Science. All papers written in English and reporting the relationship between size at birth and lipid levels in humans were assessed. Bibliographies were searched for further publications.RESULTS: From an initial screen of 1198 references, 39 papers were included involving 28 578 individuals. There was no consistent relationship between size at birth and blood lipid levels; the one exception being triglyceride concentration, which showed statistically significant negative or U-shaped, but not positive, relationships with birthweight.CONCLUSION: This review does not strongly support a link between birthweight and blood lipid levels in later life. However, the research in this area is limited and in order to make any definitive conclusions, longitudinal studies with sufficient power, data, and prospective follow-up are needed.
KW - Birth Weight
KW - Cardiovascular Diseases
KW - Cholesterol
KW - Embryonic and Fetal Development/physiology
KW - Female
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Lipids/blood
KW - Lipoproteins, HDL/blood
KW - Lipoproteins
KW - Male
KW - Triglycerides
U2 - 10.1093/ije/dyg201
DO - 10.1093/ije/dyg201
M3 - Review article
SN - 0300-5771
VL - 32
SP - 862
EP - 876
JO - International Journal of Epidemiology
JF - International Journal of Epidemiology
IS - 5
ER -