Sex-specific Associations of Maternal Prenatal Testosterone Levels with Birth Weight and Weight Gain in Infancy

Overview

Journal J Dev Orig Health Dis

Publisher Cambridge University Press

Specialty Biology

Date 2014 Jul 5

PMID 24993000

Citations 15

Authors

K M Voegtline

K A Costigan

K T Kivlighan

J L Henderson

J A DiPietro

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Associations between maternal salivary testosterone at 36 weeks' gestation with birth weight and infant weight gain through 6 months of age were examined in a group of 49 healthy, pregnant women and their offspring. The diurnal decline of maternal testosterone was conserved in late pregnancy, and levels showed significant day-to-day stability. Elevated maternal morning testosterone level was associated with lower birth weight Z-scores adjusted for gestational age and sex, and greater infant weight gain between birth and 6 months. Although maternal testosterone levels did not differ by fetal sex, relations were sex-specific such that maternal testosterone had a significant impact on weight for male infants; among female infants associations were nonsignificant. Results highlight the opposing influence of maternal androgens during pregnancy on decreased growth in utero and accelerated postnatal weight gain.

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