Influences of maternal weight on the secondary sex ratio of human offspring.
BACKGROUND
Less than optimal reproductive conditions may be associated with a secondary sex ratio biased towards females. Body weight represents a critical determinant of reproduction. Accordingly, we evaluated whether preconception body weight and weight gain during pregnancy influence the sex ratio of human offspring.


METHODS
A retrospective study was performed on 10 239 births in 1997-2001. Time of conception, preconception body weight and net weight gain during pregnancy were obtained for 9284 pregnancies.


RESULTS
The secondary sex ratio of mothers in the lowest quartile of pre-pregnancy body weight (<54.6 kg) was lower than that of the other three quartiles (0.497 versus 0.525; P < 0.01). In contrast, the sex ratio of children born by the women in the highest quartile of weight gain during pregnancy appeared lower than that of the first three quartiles (0.493 versus 0.516; P = 0.054).


CONCLUSIONS
A low pre-pregnancy weight and a greater weight gain during pregnancy are both associated with a reduced secondary sex ratio. These data indicate that in women with non-optimal reproductive/metabolic conditions, a greater attrition is exerted on male than on female offspring.
Cagnacci
A
A
Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology and Paediatric Sciences, Gynaecology Unit, Policlinico of Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy. cagnacci@unimore.it
Renzi
A
A
Arangino
S
S
Alessandrini
C
C
Volpe
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012744:Sex Ratio; D015430:Weight Gain