Influence of Maternal Lifestyle and Diet on Perinatal DNA Methylation Signatures Associated With Childhood Arterial Stiffness at 8 to 9 Years.

[Figure: see text].

Fetal and infant growth predict hip geometry at 6 y old: findings from the Southampton Women's Survey.

Background: We investigated relationships between early growth and proximal femoral geometry at age 6 y in a prospective population-based cohort, the Southampton Women's Survey.

Methods: In 493 mother-offspring pairs, we assessed linear size using high-resolution ultrasound at 11, 19, and 34 wk gestation (femur length) and at birth and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 y (crown-heel length/height). SD scores were created and conditional regression modeling generated mutually independent growth variables.

Different indices of fetal growth predict bone size and volumetric density at 4 years of age.

We have demonstrated previously that higher birth weight is associated with greater peak and later-life bone mineral content and that maternal body build, diet, and lifestyle influence prenatal bone mineral accrual. To examine prenatal influences on bone health further, we related ultrasound measures of fetal growth to childhood bone size and density. We derived Z-scores for fetal femur length and abdominal circumference and conditional growth velocity from 19 to 34 weeks' gestation from ultrasound measurements in participants in the Southampton Women's Survey.