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Maternal adiposity and infancy growth predict later telomere length: a longitudinal cohort study

International Journal of Obesity volume 40, pages 1063–1069 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Maternal overweight and obesity during pregnancy, and childhood growth patterns are risk factors influencing long-term health outcomes among the offspring. Furthermore, poor health condition has been associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length in adult subjects. We aimed to assess whether maternal adiposity during pregnancy and growth trajectory during infancy predict leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in later life.

Subjects/Methods:

We studied a cohort of 1082 subjects belonging to the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, born between 1934 and 1944. They underwent two clinical visits 10 years apart (2001–2004 and 2011–2013), during which LTL and anthropometrics were assessed. Birth records included birth weight, length, maternal body mass index (BMI) at the end of pregnancy. Serial measurements of height and weight from birth to 11 years were available.

Results:

Higher maternal BMI was associated with shorter LTL in elderly women (r=−0.102, P=0.024) but not in men. Also, in women but not in men shorter LTL and greater telomere shortening over a 10-year interval were predicted by higher weight at 12 months of age (P=0.008 and P=0.029, respectively), and higher weight gain during the first 12 months of life (P=0.008 and P=0.006, respectively), particularly between 6 and 9 months of age (P=0.002 for both LTL and LTL shortening rate). A correlation between younger age at adiposity rebound and shorter LTL at 60 years (P=0.022) was also found.

Conclusions:

High maternal adiposity during pregnancy is associated with shorter LTL in elderly female offspring, but not in men. Moreover, higher weight and weight gain during the first year of life and younger age at adiposity rebound predict shorter LTL in older age in women, suggesting that rapid growth during the perinatal period accelerates cellular aging in late adulthood.

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Acknowledgements

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement number 278603 (HEALTH-FP7-DORIAN project: Developmental origins of healthy and unhealthy ageing: the role of maternal obesity). Helsinki Birth Cohort Study has been supported by grants from Finska Läkaresällskapet, the Finnish Special Governmental Subsidy for Health Sciences, Academy of Finland, Samfundet Folkhälsan, Liv och Hälsa, the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, and EU FP7 (DORIAN) project number 278603. The study has also been supported by grants from the Finnish Foundation for Pediatric Research and Sigrid Juselius Foundation. We acknowledge PhD Iiris Hovatta and her team for her assistance in telomere measurements.

Author contributions

MAG conceptualized and designed the study, carried out the measurement of leukocyte telomere length, carried out the analysis and interpretation of data, wrote the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. PI conceptualized and designed the study, participated in the analysis and interpretation of data, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. MKS participated in the concept and design of the study and data collection, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. EK participated in the concept of the study, participated in the analysis and interpretation of data, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted. JGE conceptualized and designed the study, participated in the analysis and interpretation of data, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy

    M A Guzzardi & P Iozzo

  2. National Institute for Health and Welfare, Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Helsinki, Finland

    M K Salonen, E Kajantie & J G Eriksson

  3. Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland

    M K Salonen & J G Eriksson

  4. Children’s Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    E Kajantie

  5. PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    E Kajantie

  6. Unit of General Practice, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    J G Eriksson

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  1. M A Guzzardi
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Correspondence to M A Guzzardi.

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Guzzardi, M., Iozzo, P., Salonen, M. et al. Maternal adiposity and infancy growth predict later telomere length: a longitudinal cohort study. Int J Obes 40, 1063–1069 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.58

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