Maternal Height and Preterm Birth: A Study on 192,432 Swedish Women

BackgroundThere is increasing evidence that lower maternal stature is associated with shorter gestational length in the offspring. We examined the association between maternal height and the likelihood of delivering preterm babies in a large and homogeneous cohort of Swedish women.MethodsThis study covers antenatal data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register on 192,432 women (aged 26.0 years on average) born at term, from singleton pregnancies, and of Nordic ethnicity. Continuous associations between women''s heights and the likelihood of preterm birth in the offspring were evaluated. Stratified analyses were also carried out, separating women into different height categories.ResultsEvery cm decrease in maternal stature was associated with 0.2 days shortening of gestational age in the offspring (p<0.0001) and increasing odds of having a child born preterm (OR 1.03), very preterm (OR 1.03), or extremely preterm (OR 1.04). Besides, odds of all categories of preterm birth were highest among the shortest women but lowest among the tallest mothers. Specifically, women of short stature (≤155 cm or ≤-2.0 SDS below the population mean) had greater odds of having preterm (OR 1.65) or very preterm (OR 1.47) infants than women of average stature (-0.5 to 0.5 SDS). When compared to women of tall stature (≥179 cm), mothers of short stature had even greater odds of giving birth to preterm (OR 2.07) or very preterm (OR 2.16) infants.ConclusionsAmong Swedish women, decreasing height was associated with a progressive increase in the odds of having an infant born preterm. Maternal short stature is a likely contributing factor to idiopathic preterm births worldwide, possibly due to maternal anatomical constraints.     

佤族的体质特征

调查了442例(男258例,女184例)佤族人的67项(观察项目9项,测量项目58项)体质人类学指标,计算了31项体质指数值,统计了部分指数的分型情况。研究结果显示:佤族人内眦褶率低(16.1%),上眼睑皱褶率高(96.8%),鼻根高度、鼻翼高度与上唇皮肤部高度均为中等型,耳垂多为圆型(58.1%),发色多为黑色,眼色多为褐色,肤色多为黄色。身高均数男为160.4cm,女为150.7cm,男女均为亚中等身材。体重均数男为54.9kg女为49.1kg。按指数分型标准,男女均以圆头型、高头型、阔头型、狭面型、狭鼻型、长躯干型、中腿型、中胸型出现率最高。此外,男性以宽肩型、中骨盆型出现率最高;女性的中肩型、窄骨盆型出现率最高。对包括佤族在内的我国32个人群(南、北方各16个人群)13项体质指标值主成分分析,结果显示佤族人身材矮小、纤瘦,面部及五官高度值较大,头长值较小,头面部及五官宽度值较大。佤族人具有蒙古人种南亚类型的体质特征。本文对佤族人体质特征形成的原因进行了初步分析。     

Child height and intergenerational transmission of health: Evidence from ethnic Indians in England

A large literature documents a widespread prevalence of small stature among Indian children as well as adults. We show that a height gap relative to a richer population such as whites in England also exists, although substantially reduced, among adult immigrants of Indian ethnicity in England. This is despite positive height selection into migration, demonstrated by ethnic Indian adults in England being on average 6–7 cm taller than in India. However, the difference between natives and ethnic Indians in England disappears among their younger sons and daughters, although it re-appears among adolescents. We estimate that, conditional on age, gender and parental height, ethnic Indian children of age 2–4 in England are 6–8% taller than in India. Such degree of catch up in one generation is remarkable, also because in England children of ethnic Indians have much smaller birthweight than whites, by about 0.4 kg on average.     

Psychosocial functioning of adolescents with idiopathic short stature or persistent short stature born small for gestational age during three years of combined growth hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment

AIM: To examine psychosocial functioning of medically referred adolescents with idiopathic short stature (ISS) or persistent short stature born small for gestational age (SGA) during 3 years of combined growth hormone (GH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment. METHODS: Thirty-eight adolescents participated in a controlled trial with GH/GnRHa treatment or no intervention. Each year the adolescents and their parents completed questionnaires and structured interviews. Multilevel analysis was used to analyze data. RESULTS: The adolescents of the treatment group showed a worse outcome than the adolescents of the control group on 3 of 16 variables: perceived competence of scholastic (p < 0.01) and athletic ability (p < 0.05) and trait anxiety (p < 0.05). Adolescents in both the treatment and control groups perceived improved current height (p < 0.001) and self-appraisal of physical appearance (p < 0.05). The parents did not report changes in their children during treatment. CONCLUSION: The observation of some adverse psychological consequences as experienced by the adolescents indicates that it is useful to monitor psychosocial functioning during a combined GH/GnRHa treatment in adolescents with ISS or SGA. It is uncertain whether the hypothesized positive effects of the expected gain in final height by adulthood can sufficiently counterbalance possible short-term negative effects.     

珞巴族与门巴族的体质特征

在西藏米林县调查了珞巴族人的67项体质指标, 在错那县调查了门巴族人的67项体质指标, 计算了体质指数, 对珞巴族、门巴族与我国其他人群体质数据进行了比较。研究结果显示: (1)珞巴族男女均为高头型、中面型、中头型(头宽高指数)、中腿型、中胸型、中骨盆型。(2)门巴族男女均为圆头型、高头型、中面型、中鼻型、宽肩型、中胸型、中骨盆型。(3)珞巴族男性、女性均为中等型身高。门巴族男性、女性均为亚中等身高。(4)珞巴族与门巴族蒙古褶率低,上眼睑皱褶率低, 鼻翼高度以中等型率最高, 上唇皮肤部高度以中等型率最高, 发色均为黑色, 眼色褐色率最高, 肤色以黄色率最高。珞巴族耳垂以三角形率最高, 门巴族以圆型率最高。珞巴族、门巴族鼻根高度男性均以中等型率最高, 女性均以低型率最高。(5)珞巴族与门巴族体质特征很接近。他们的头面部特征与甘肃藏族、四川藏族较为接近。珞巴族、门巴族虽生活在我国南方, 体部主要测量指标值与蒙古人种北亚类型接近。     

A tradeoff between reproduction and growth in contemporary Finnish women

Women have been suggested to trade growth in height for reproduction, as an earlier age at menarche and first birth seem to be related to shorter adult stature. Although women likely accrue fitness benefits by maturing and starting reproduction at young age, short adult stature may be selected against by natural and sexual selection later in their life. We studied how age at menarche and first reproduction affected adult height and whether adult height in turn was related to lifetime reproductive success in Finnish women born 1946–1958. Our results show that a delay of 1 year in age at menarche and first reproduction was related to a 0.43- and 0.20-cm increase in adult height, respectively. The sex of the first-born offspring was not related to adult height. Moreover, women gained fitness benefits by starting reproduction early but not by growing tall. These findings among Finnish women are thus compatible with tradeoffs between reproduction and growth, by showing a compromised adult height at the cost of early age at menarche and first birth. However, in these women, natural selection favored those women who traded their stature for young motherhood.     

Economic disadvantage modifies the association of height with low mood in the US, 2004: The disappointment paradox

INTRODUCTION: Taller stature is associated with greater health potential reflected by reduced risks for coronary heart disease (CHD) and depression. Previous studies demonstrated that the reduced CHD and depression risks associated with tall stature were eliminated by financial disadvantage in adult life. HYPOTHESIS: The reduced risk of depression, defined as low mood, associated with taller stature is eliminated by adult financial adversity. This study also attempts to replicate earlier findings, that the reduced risk of CHD associated with taller stature is eliminated by adult financial adversity. METHODS: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is an ongoing survey of the adult population of the US conducted by state health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, providing a representative sample of 45,210 adults resident in USA in 2004 with data on low mood and CHD. Low mood was defined by self-reported low mood for more than 15 days in the previous month and CHD by a diagnosis of angina or coronary heart disease. Short stature was defined as the lower 20% of sex-standardised heights and economic disadvantage as household income below $15,000 per annum. RESULTS: Tall stature was associated with a statistically significant reduced risk for low mood in the entire population. After stratification by economic disadvantage, taller individuals in the higher income stratum maintained a statistically significant reduced risk of low mood, with an odds ratio (and 95% confidence interval) of 0.90 (0.90, 0.91) after adjustment for potential confounding factors and application of the survey weighting. In contrast, taller stature represented a raised risk for low mood in the lower income stratum, with a statistically significant odds ratio of 1.27 (1.26, 1.28) with weighting. This effect modification was confirmed by interaction testing, producing an odds ratio for interaction of 1.39 (1.37, 1.39; p<0.001). This phenomenon was most profound among white males, with an odds ratio for interaction of 2.20 (2.16, 2.25). Effect modification by economic disadvantage was also observed for the association of height with CHD, producing an odds ratio for interaction of 1.57 (1.56, 1.59; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although taller stature indicates better heath potential in terms of low mood and CHD, this potential is eliminated by economic disadvantage in later life. Indeed, taller stature is associated with an increased risk among those who experience economic disadvantage. Possible explanations are that childhood adversity reducing height may confer resilience against some forms of adult adversity. Alternatively, as taller stature signals greater childhood advantage, then financial adversity may represent a form of disappointment among this group: the disappointment paradox.     

哈萨克族学生体质发育状况的10年比较分析

报道新疆阿勒泰地区1995年2589名城镇7—18岁哈萨克族(哈族)中小学生身高、体重、胸围、坐高、肩宽、骨盆宽6项体质发育指标的调查结果。男女生体质发育指标随年龄增加而增长,各项指标的年均增长值皆为男生大于女生。与1985年比较,哈族学生的身高、体重、胸围皆有不同程度增长。哈族男女生的身高突增年龄仍分别为14岁和10岁,但是其身高增长却不伴有相应比例的坐高增长,女生部分年龄组的肩宽和男女生各年龄组的骨盆宽呈现负增长,提示哈族学生的体型与10年前相比已经开始有所改变。     

Growth patterns and physical plasticity in adolescent laborers

Data about the effects of working environment and excessive physical loads on human growth and constitution are insufficient. Although there are a few studies which link growth retardation in children's stature and long bones to their exposure to hard labor, it is difficult to discern whether the detrimental effects of compressive forces on growth result solely from severe compressive stresses or from the subjects' poor economic and substandard nutritional conditions as well. The aim of this study was to clarify this issue by comparing the anthropometric dimensions of laboring and non-laboring adolescents; both groups came from lower socioeconomic strata and were subject to poor living conditions. The laboring group consisted of 532 male apprentices aged 13.5-18.5, and the control group, of their 451 non-laboring peers who were attending school during the period of observation. Body weight, 3 vertical dimensions (stature, upper and lower limb lengths), 2 diameters (elbow and knee breadths), and 3 circumferences (contracted and relaxed upper arm girth and calf girth) were measured. In addition, relative growth according to the body height for each variable was computed, since relative variables are more valuable in evaluating the effects of excessive loading on the human body. The analyses showed that all vertical dimensions of laboring adolescents lagged behind those of their non-laboring peers. There were also clear differences between the two groups with regard to relative diameters and girths. The pressure effects of physical activity stimulate the transversal growth of the long bones. Similarly, circumferences, especially contracted upper arm girth relative to stature, are more developed in the laboring group than in the non-laboring group. These findings suggest that excessive workloads retard adolescents' vertical growth, especially in upper parts of the body, but that they stimulate transversal growth of the long bones and muscle development.     

Mid-sagittal dimensions of cervical vertebral bodies.

A series of lateral radiographs of the cervical spinal column was evaluated in order to determine vertebral body dimensions. The sample included males (N=30) and females (N=31) 18 to 24 years old, comprising three stature percentile ranges (1-20; 40-60; 80-99) of the U.S. adult population. A two-dimensional analysis of vertebral body height (average distance between superior-inferior surgaces), depth (average distance between anteriorposterior surfaces), and area (average height X average depth) revealed minimal effects due to stature. In all subjects, average depth exceeded average height for vertebral bodies C3 through C7. Upon combining stature groups, both sexes revealed maximum average values for these dimensions at the seventh cervical vertebral body. Minimum average height occurred at C5 whereas minimum average depth was found at C3. Significant correlation (alpha greater than 0.05) was found for males between ponderal index and height and depth of the C7 vertebra. Male head weight correlated significantly with C3, C4, C5 and C6 vertebral body height and with C3, C5 and C6 vertebral body depth. For females, C7 height and C6 depth correlated significantly with ponderal index and head weight respectively. Probable biomechanical relationships of specific cervical vertebral bodies are noted     

中国102个人群的身高与地理环境相关性研究

本文对分布在中国16个不同行政区域的102个人群(汉族23个,少数民族79个)的人体发育指标—身高,应用地理信息系统(GIS)的空间分析功能和制图表达方法,对身高受地理环境因素影响的程度进行了综合分析。研究结果显示:随着地理纬度的升高,身高呈现逐渐增高的趋势。随着地区太阳总辐射量的增大,该地区的群体身高水平呈现增高的趋势;随着降雨量和湿度的增大,群体的身高水平呈现降低的趋势;随着地区平均风速指数的增加,身高亦呈现增高趋势。此外,研究还表明区域海拔和气压等因素对身高无明显影响。地理信息系统的技术与方法为分析人体身高发育受地理环境因素的差异性影响提供了新的技术手段和解决方案。     

Decline of height with age in adults in a general population sample: estimating maximum height and distinguishing birth cohort effects from actual loss of stature with aging

The decline in stature with age among adults is well documented. Although part of this represents a birth cohort effect, actual height declines among older individuals are known to contribute to the effect. In this study we used longitudinal changes in the heights of adults in a general population sample to determine the rate of decline in height over time in individuals of different ages. This allowed an estimation of the age at which decline in height begins, a value close to age 40 in both sexes. It also allowed derivation of equations from which the maximum height of subjects can be estimated on the basis of their sex, current height, and age. These equations should prove useful when examining the effect of aging per se on physiological measurements that are height dependent. The data also allow one to compare the magnitude of the effect of year of birth with that of the actual decline in height seen among the elderly. We estimate that approximately 60% of the smaller stature of older male subjects and 45% of the smaller stature of older female subjects is a birth cohort effect deriving from the secular trend toward greater stature; the remainder is a result of an actual decrement in height after the age of 40.     

The ups and downs of Mexican economic growth: the biological standard of living and inequality, 1870–1950

The secular change in the biological standard of living of the Mexican population between 1870 and 1950 is examined based on evidence on the physical stature from military and passport records. While Mexico industrialized and experienced rapid economic growth during this period, there was only a modest overall improvement in the height, health and nutritional status of the Mexican population. The average Mexican born in the 1940s was not only slightly taller than its compatriot of the 1870s. There were, however, considerable social differences: the Mexican upper class was markedly taller than the working class and the gap increased prior to the revolution. Economic growth with systemic inequality largely accounts for such a pattern.     

Does height modify the risk of angina associated with economic adversity?

Adult height partly reflects childhood exposures, and we hypothesise that some exposures impairing growth may also increase susceptibility to coronary heart disease--angina pectoris (angina)--risks, such that shorter adults may be more susceptible to some exposures in adulthood that are risks for heart disease. This hypothesis is tested among all adults who participated in the National Health Interview Survey (USA), 1997-2000 [The National Health Survey, 1997-2000. Data file documentation, National Health Interview Survey (machine-readable data file and documentation). National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, Maryland, ]. In the entire study population, height was negatively associated with angina and after adjustment for potential confounding factors; the odds ratio (and 95% confidence interval) for angina risk associated with the tallest height fifth compared with the shortest fifth is 0.77 (0.97, 0.88). The association of low income (less than US 20,000 dollars) with angina was assessed separately in each of five height strata defined by fifths of the height distribution. The magnitude of this association is lower in the shortest than the tallest height fifth, with odds ratios of 1.18 and 1.60, respectively (effect modification). The unexpected results may be explained by the following: childhood adversity resulting in shorter stature may confer resilience against adult economic adversity; the relative disadvantage of low income may be perceived more keenly by those of taller stature thereby increasing stress and thus disease risk; or health-promoting characteristics associated with taller stature may be less effective in the face of adult economic adversity in the low-income group.     

内蒙古兴安盟汉族体质调查

调查了内蒙古兴安盟乌兰浩特市320例城市汉族(男145人, 女175人)和突泉县太平乡514例乡村汉族(男256人, 女258人)的85项体质指标, 计算了32项指数及其分型。研究显示, 1)内蒙古兴安盟汉族的主要体质特征为:大多数人有上眼睑皱褶, 44.5%的人具蒙古褶,眼裂高度以窄、中型为主, 眼裂倾斜度以外高内低型最高; 鼻根高度以中、低型为主, 鼻基部多上翘或水平, 鼻梁侧面观多为直型, 鼻翼高度中等, 鼻孔最大径多横位或斜位; 上唇皮肤部高度多为中等型; 耳垂类型多为圆形、三角形; 黑发, 眼色褐色, 肤色黄或浅黄。男女均以特圆头型、高头型、中头型、狭鼻型、中面型、宽胸型、宽骨盆型、宽肩型及中肩型、长躯干型、亚短腿型居多。城市男女身高均以高型为主, 乡村男女身高中等或亚中等类型占优。2)兴安盟汉族城市人群的体质状况总体上优于乡村。3)兴安盟汉族的体质特征与蒙古族、回族、锡伯族等北方族群接近。     

Height correlation analysis between women with Turner syndrome, their sisters and parents

INTRODUCTION: The most frequent physical features associated with Turner syndrome is short stature. The main goal of the research was to estimate the height of women with Turner syndrome and to analyze the correlation between their height and their sisters and parents height. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was based on the 176 women with Turner syndrome (number of parents = 176; number of sisters = 122). The data was collected from 1995 to 2002 in Out-patient Clinic for Women with Turner's Syndrome in Bytom. RESULTS: Average height in the group of women non treated with growth hormone and anabolic drugs was 144.1 +/- 6.8 cm (n = 105), mothers average height: 162 +/- 5.3 cm, fathers average height: 172.4 +/- 6.1 cm, sisters: 164.9 +/- 5.2 cm (n = 79). The height of women with karyotype 45,X was slightly shorter: 143.1 +/- 6.9 cm, while the height of the family have remained unchanged. Contrary to all untreated women with Turner syndrome where the height was correlated with the mothers and fathers height (pearson's r = 0.32 and 0.34 respectively), sisters height was correlated mainly with fathers height (pearson's r = 0.47 and 0.34 respectively). In the group with karyotype 45,X patients' height was correlated mainly with mothers height (r = 0.55). In this group sisters height is correlated stronger with fathers' height (r = 0.45) than with mothers' height (r = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: 1. The height of non treated women with Turner syndrome is correlated with both parents height while the height of sisters is correlated mainly with fathers. 2. The height of Turner syndrome women with karyotype 45,X is correlated with their mothers height.     

北京与重庆地区成人身高变化的研究

1983年对北京、重庆两地市区和农村汉族685对父子和667对母女的身高和坐高进行了测量。结果表明,两地市区与农村的子女比其父母分别高2.4至4.0厘米(P<0.01)。在28.5年中,一代人平均增高3.35厘米。市区男女两代人都比农村的要高,而且市区年青人身高增加比农村的多。女青年身高增加比男青年的更多。北京人比重庆人高,而且北京年青一代身高增加比重庆人更多。重庆年青人上身增长比下肢多,而北京年青人则下肢增长多。结果还表明,身高相关系数为0.37—0.45,遗传力h2值在0.6665—0.8217之间。     

A positive relationship between body height and the testosterone response to physical exercise

Human male height is one of the most conspicuous sexually dimorphic, phenotypic characteristics that affect how men are perceived both by men and women, impacting mate selection and intra-sexual competition. Testosterone is a key hormone linked to morphological masculinity and advantage in intra-sexual competition. To date, there have been limited studies linking height with testosterone levels. Here, we examined the change in circulating testosterone levels after physical exercise in 97 healthy and physically active men. Our results show that there was a significant relationship between male stature and the change in testosterone levels, whereas there was no such link between body height and circulating testosterone levels. Therefore, our findings provide evidence that height may indicate male’s adaptive capabilities to physiologically mobilize their bodies when it is needed and/or beneficial.     

不同年份山东省高身材和矮身材儿童少年筛检及体质评价

利用1985年、1995年和2000年山东省学生体质与健康调研资料,按照中国汉族儿童少年身高的P97和P3百分位数,筛检高身材和矮身材儿童少年。分析了15年来高身材和矮身材儿童少年检出率的变化,对2000年高身材和矮身材儿童少年的体质状况进行了分析评价。高身材儿童少年检出率明显上升,高身材儿童少年在运动素质方面既有优势也有不足,并非意味着体质与健康状况有更高的优势;矮身材儿童少年体质较差,应采取措施促进其健康成长。