Sex-specific associations of maternal prenatal testosterone levels with birth weight and weight gain in infancy
Open Access
- 16 April 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
- Vol. 4 (4), 280-284
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S2040174413000135
Abstract
Associations between maternal salivary testosterone at 36 weeks’ gestation with birth weight and infant weight gain through 6 months of age were examined in a group of 49 healthy, pregnant women and their offspring. The diurnal decline of maternal testosterone was conserved in late pregnancy, and levels showed significant day-to-day stability. Elevated maternal morning testosterone level was associated with lower birth weight Z-scores adjusted for gestational age and sex, and greater infant weight gain between birth and 6 months. Although maternal testosterone levels did not differ by fetal sex, relations were sex-specific such that maternal testosterone had a significant impact on weight for male infants; among female infants associations were nonsignificant. Results highlight the opposing influence of maternal androgens during pregnancy on decreased growth in utero and accelerated postnatal weight gain.Keywords
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