Being born large for gestational age is associated with earlier pubertal take‐off and longer growth duration: a longitudinal study

Aim Perinatal factors seem to influence the onset of puberty, but there is limited information on the potential effect of large size at birth on pubertal growth. This study evaluated pubertal growth in children born large for gestational age (LGA) compared to children born appropriate for gestationa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta Paediatrica 2017-01, Vol.106 (1), p.61-66
Main Authors: Di Giovanni, Ilaria, Marcovecchio, M. Loredana, Chiavaroli, Valentina, Giorgis, Tommaso, Chiarelli, Francesco, Mohn, Angelika
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Age Factors
Birth Weight
Body Height
Case-Control Studies
Child
Female
Fetal Macrosomia
Growth patterns
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Large for gestational age
Longitudinal Studies
Longitudinal study
Male
Perinatal factors
Puberty
Puberty - physiology
Puberty, Precocious - etiology
Retrospective Studies
Time Factors
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Summary:Aim Perinatal factors seem to influence the onset of puberty, but there is limited information on the potential effect of large size at birth on pubertal growth. This study evaluated pubertal growth in children born large for gestational age (LGA) compared to children born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Methods Longitudinal growth data collected from 70 children – 40 AGA and 30 LGA – were analysed. The ages at take‐off, peak height velocity, final height and pubertal growth spurts were calculated using the Preece–Baines model I. Results Large for gestational age children showed an earlier age at take‐off compared to AGA children (10.1 ± 1.2 versus 11.0 ± 1.4 years, p = 0.007), whereas the age at peak height velocity and at final height was similar. LGA children showed a longer growth spurt duration (2.5 ± 1 versus 1.5 ± 1.2 years, p < 0.001) and total pubertal duration (5.3 ± 1.2 versus 4.6 ± 1.2 years, p = 0.036) than AGA children. Results were similar when stratified by sex. Conclusion Being born LGA was associated with an earlier pubertal take‐off and longer growth duration. These unique findings, due to the lack of studies on pubertal growth patterns in LGA children, might lead the way to novel research and a different approach to LGA children at the onset of pubertal growth.
ISSN:0803-5253
1651-2227
DOI:10.1111/apa.13633