title: Mother's lifetime nutrition and the size, shape and efficiency of the placenta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown that the shape and size of the placenta at birth predict blood pressure in later life. The influences that determine placental morphology are largely unknown. We have examined the role of mother's body size.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 522 neonates who were born in a maternity hospital in Mysore, South India. The weight of the placenta and the length and breadth of its surface, were measured after delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher maternal fat mass predicted a larger placental surface (p = 0.02), while larger maternal head circumference predicted a more oval placental surface (p = 0.03). Higher maternal fat mass and larger maternal head circumference were associated with greater placental efficiency, indicated by lower ratios of the length (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.0001 respectively) and breadth (p = 0.0002 and p < 0.0001) of the surface to birthweight. In a sub-sample of 51 mothers whose own birthweight was available, higher maternal birthweight was related to lower ratios of the length and breadth of the surface to birthweight (p = 0.01 and 0.002). Maternal height was unrelated to placental size or shape.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher maternal fat mass, reflecting the mother's current nutritional state, and larger maternal head circumference, reflecting the mother's fetal/infant growth, are associated with changes in the shape and size of the placental surface and greater placental efficiency. We suggest that these associations reflect effects of the mother's nutrition at different stages of her lifecourse on the development of the placenta and on materno-placento-fetal transfer of nutrients.
authors.affiliation: MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. nw@mrc.soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Winder
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Krishnaveni
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Veena
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: C L S
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Karat
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Thornburg
authors.forename: C H D
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Fall
authors.forename: D J P
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D009035:Mothers; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult