Birthweight and social deprivation: influences on serum lipids and fibrinogen.
Epidemiological studies have shown that adults with low birthweight have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and some others have shown that they have a less favourable serum lipid and lipoprotein profile. If cholesterol metabolism were programmed in utero, we would expect to see an influence of birthweight on blood lipids in children. In 422 children aged 11-15 y in Middlesborough, Cleveland, UK, we investigated the association between birthweight and serum lipids and plasma fibrinogen. We also investigated the influence of childhood social deprivation, measured using the Townsend deprivation index, on these measures.


CONCLUSIONS
We found a significant inverse association between birthweight and serum triglyceride level, but not with other serum lipid levels. From a regression model we estimate that triglyceride rose by 1.1 mmol l(-1) kg(-1) fall in birthweight after adjustment for sex, current age and weight. Findings were similar in boys and girls separately. This could contribute to the observed inverse association between birthweight and cardiovascular mortality. Social deprivation was associated with higher fibrinogen, but not lipid levels. Our data highlight the importance of considering influences throughout the life course on adult disease.
Menzies Centre for Population Health Research, Hobart, Tasmania. morleyr@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au
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Morley
Harland PSEG
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Law
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Lucas
D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors
D008055:Lipids; D005340:Fibrinogen