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OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine whether variants of the IGF1 gene are associated with growth patterns from foetal life until infancy. STUDY DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS: This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study of foetal life. Foetal growth (head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, estimated foetal weight) was assessed by ultrasound in early, mid- and late pregnancy. Growth in infancy was assessed at birth (weight) and at the ages of 6 weeks, 6 months and 14 months (head circumference, length, weight). The IGF1 promoter region genotype was determined in 738 children. RESULTS: Eight alleles of the IGF1 promoter region were identified. In total, 43% of the subjects were homozygous for the most common 192-bp allele (wild-type), 45% were heterozygous, and 12% were noncarriers of the 192-bp allele. No differences were found in birthweight between the three groups. However, noncarriers had a lower estimated foetal weight in mid-pregnancy (P = 0.040), followed by an increased growth rate until 6 months (P < 0.005) in comparison to the 192-bp homozygotes. A similar difference in growth rate was found for length (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Variants of the IGF1 promoter region are not associated with birthweight. However, noncarriers of the 192-bp allele tend to have a smaller foetal size, followed by an increased growth rate from mid-pregnancy to early infancy. Studies in larger cohorts are necessary to replicate our findings and to examine whether these effects persist throughout childhood.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.03050.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Clinical endocrinology

Publication Date

03/2008

Volume

68

Pages

382 - 389

Addresses

The Generation R Study Group, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Keywords

Fetus, Humans, Body Weight, Birth Weight, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I, Prospective Studies, Child Development, Fetal Development, Alleles, Infant, Female, Male, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Genetic Variation