title: Weight gain in infancy and cancer of the ovary.
abstract: The geographic association between ovarian cancer and tall stature suggests a link with rapid growth in early childhood. Among 5585 women born in Hertfordshire, UK, 41 who died from ovarian cancer had had a high rate of weight gain in infancy. Whereas their mean birthweight was the same as that of the other women, their mean weight at 1 year was higher (22.3 pounds [10.1 kg] vs 21.4 pounds [9.7 kg], p = 0.01). These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that ovarian cancer is linked to altered patterns of gonadotropin release established in utero when the fetal hypothalamus is imprinted.
authors.affiliation: MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Osmond
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Sultan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins