title: Sex differences in the association between birth weight and total cholesterol. A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine whether a sex difference exists in the association between birth weight and total cholesterol later in life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meta-analysis of within-study differences in regression coefficients of cholesterol on birth weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 34 regression coefficients from 30 studies were included in the analyses; these provided data on 33,650 males and 23,129 females. There was evidence that the inverse association between birth weight and total cholesterol was stronger in males compared to females. The pooled within-study difference in age-adjusted regression coefficients was -0.03 mmol/l (-0.06, -0.01), p = 0.02 and the pooled within-study difference in age and body mass index adjusted regression coefficients was -0.04 mmol/l (-0.07, -0.02), p = 0.002. There was no evidence of heterogeneity in these meta-analyses (both p values > 0.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide some evidence for a sex difference in the birth weight-total cholesterol association. This is consistent with studies of fetal growth which suggest that birth size reflects different biological processes for females and males. However, other very large studies are required to confirm this finding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, United Kingdom. d.a.lawlor@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Debbie A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Anna A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Whincup
authors.forename: Shah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebrahim
authors.forename: Derek G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davey Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001724:Birth Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol