title: Infants born large-for-gestational-age display slower growth in early infancy, but no epigenetic changes at birth.
abstract: We evaluated the growth patterns of infants born large-for-gestational-age (LGA) from birth to age 1 year compared to those born appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA). In addition, we investigated possible epigenetic changes associated with being born LGA. Seventy-one newborns were classified by birth weight as AGA (10(th)-90(th) percentile; n = 42) or LGA (>90(th) percentile; n = 29). Post-natal follow-up until age 1 year was performed with clinical assessments at 3, 6, and 12 months. Genome-wide DNA methylation was analysed on umbilical tissue in 19 AGA and 27 LGA infants. At birth, LGA infants had greater weight (p < 0.0001), length (p < 0.0001), ponderal index (p = 0.020), as well as greater head (p < 0.0001), chest (p = 0.044), and abdominal (p = 0.007) circumferences than AGA newborns. LGA infants were still larger at the age of 3 months, but by age 6 months there were no more differences between groups, due to higher length and weight increments in AGA infants between 0 and 6 months (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Genome-wide analysis showed no epigenetic differences between LGA and AGA infants. Overall, LGA infants had slower growth in early infancy, being anthropometrically similar to AGA infants by 6 months of age. In addition, differences between AGA and LGA newborns were not associated with epigenetic changes.
authors.affiliation: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiavaroli
authors.affiliation: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Wayne S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Cutfield
authors.affiliation: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: José G B
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Derraik
authors.affiliation: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Zengxiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.affiliation: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.affiliation: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Craigie
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: National Women's Health, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.affiliation: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahlsson
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D002657:Child Development; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005865:Gestational Age; D057238:Growth Charts; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D011247:Pregnancy