Birth weight, adult weight, and cardiovascular biomarkers: Evidence from the Cardiovascular Young Finns Study

Jaakko Pehkonen; Jutta Viinikainen; Jaana T. Kari; Petri Böckerman; Terho Lehtimäki; Jorma Viikari; Olli Raitakari

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106894

Birth weight, adult weight, and cardiovascular biomarkers: Evidence from the Cardiovascular Young Finns Study

Jaakko Pehkonen^*
, Jutta Viinikainen
, Jaana T. Kari
, Petri Böckerman
, Terho Lehtimäki
, Jorma Viikari
, Olli Raitakari

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Clinical Chemistry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

8 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study quantifies the causal effect of birth weight on cardiovascular biomarkers in adulthood using the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS). We apply a multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) method that provides a novel approach to improve inference in causal analysis based on a mediation framework. The results show that birth weight is linked to triglyceride levels (β = −0.294; 95% CI [−0.591, 0.003]) but not to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (β = 0.007; 95% CI [−0.168, 0.183]). The total effect of birth weight on triglyceride levels is partly offset by a mediation pathway linking birth weight to adult BMI (β = 0.111; 95% CI [−0.013, 0.234]). The negative total effect is consistent with the fetal programming hypothesis. The positive indirect effect via adult BMI highlights the persistence of body weight throughout a person's life and the adverse effects of high BMI on health. The results are consistent with previous findings that both low birth weight and weight gain increase health risks in adulthood.

Original language	English
Article number	106894
Journal	Preventive Medicine
Volume	154
Early online date	19 Nov 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106894
Publication status	Published - Jan 2022
Publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

The YFS has been financially supported by the Academy of Finland (grant numbers 322098 , 286284 , 134309 (Eye), 126925 , 121584 , 124282 , 129378 (Salve), 117787 (Gendi), 41071 (Skidi)); Social Insurance Institution of Finland ; Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Kuopio ; Tampere and Turku University Hospitals (grant number X51001 ); Juho Vainio Foundation ; Paavo Nurmi Foundation ; Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research ; Finnish Cultural Foundation ; the Sigrid Juselius Foundation; Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation ; Emil Aaltonen Foundation ; Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation ; Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation ; Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation ; Diabetes Research Foundation of Finnish Diabetes Association ; EU Horizon 2020 (grant number 755320 for TAX-INOMISIS); European Research Council (grant number 742927 for MULTIEPIGEN project); Tampere University Hospital Supporting Foundation ; the Society of Finnish Clinical Chemistry .

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Adult BMI
Birth weight
Causal mediation
LDL cholesterol
Multivariable Mendelian randomization
Triglycerides

Publication forum classification

Publication forum level 2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Epidemiology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106894Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

1-s2.0-S0091743521004679-mainFinal published version, 494 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202112129136Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

@article{9d58f4375e6b42b9a5c15f1772507789,

title = "Birth weight, adult weight, and cardiovascular biomarkers: Evidence from the Cardiovascular Young Finns Study",

abstract = "This study quantifies the causal effect of birth weight on cardiovascular biomarkers in adulthood using the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS). We apply a multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) method that provides a novel approach to improve inference in causal analysis based on a mediation framework. The results show that birth weight is linked to triglyceride levels (β = −0.294; 95\% CI [−0.591, 0.003]) but not to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (β = 0.007; 95\% CI [−0.168, 0.183]). The total effect of birth weight on triglyceride levels is partly offset by a mediation pathway linking birth weight to adult BMI (β = 0.111; 95\% CI [−0.013, 0.234]). The negative total effect is consistent with the fetal programming hypothesis. The positive indirect effect via adult BMI highlights the persistence of body weight throughout a person's life and the adverse effects of high BMI on health. The results are consistent with previous findings that both low birth weight and weight gain increase health risks in adulthood.",

keywords = "Adult BMI, Birth weight, Causal mediation, LDL cholesterol, Multivariable Mendelian randomization, Triglycerides",

author = "Jaakko Pehkonen and Jutta Viinikainen and Kari, \{Jaana T.\} and Petri B{\"o}ckerman and Terho Lehtim{\"a}ki and Jorma Viikari and Olli Raitakari",

note = "Funding Information: The YFS has been financially supported by the Academy of Finland (grant numbers 322098 , 286284 , 134309 (Eye), 126925 , 121584 , 124282 , 129378 (Salve), 117787 (Gendi), 41071 (Skidi)); Social Insurance Institution of Finland ; Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Kuopio ; Tampere and Turku University Hospitals (grant number X51001 ); Juho Vainio Foundation ; Paavo Nurmi Foundation ; Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research ; Finnish Cultural Foundation ; the Sigrid Juselius Foundation; Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation ; Emil Aaltonen Foundation ; Yrj{\"o} Jahnsson Foundation ; Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation ; Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation ; Diabetes Research Foundation of Finnish Diabetes Association ; EU Horizon 2020 (grant number 755320 for TAX-INOMISIS); European Research Council (grant number 742927 for MULTIEPIGEN project); Tampere University Hospital Supporting Foundation ; the Society of Finnish Clinical Chemistry . ",

year = "2022",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106894",

language = "English",

volume = "154",

journal = "Preventive Medicine",

issn = "0091-7435",

publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",

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T1 - Birth weight, adult weight, and cardiovascular biomarkers

T2 - Evidence from the Cardiovascular Young Finns Study

AU - Pehkonen, Jaakko

AU - Viinikainen, Jutta

AU - Kari, Jaana T.

AU - Böckerman, Petri

AU - Lehtimäki, Terho

AU - Viikari, Jorma

AU - Raitakari, Olli

N1 - Funding Information: The YFS has been financially supported by the Academy of Finland (grant numbers 322098 , 286284 , 134309 (Eye), 126925 , 121584 , 124282 , 129378 (Salve), 117787 (Gendi), 41071 (Skidi)); Social Insurance Institution of Finland ; Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Kuopio ; Tampere and Turku University Hospitals (grant number X51001 ); Juho Vainio Foundation ; Paavo Nurmi Foundation ; Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research ; Finnish Cultural Foundation ; the Sigrid Juselius Foundation; Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation ; Emil Aaltonen Foundation ; Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation ; Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation ; Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation ; Diabetes Research Foundation of Finnish Diabetes Association ; EU Horizon 2020 (grant number 755320 for TAX-INOMISIS); European Research Council (grant number 742927 for MULTIEPIGEN project); Tampere University Hospital Supporting Foundation ; the Society of Finnish Clinical Chemistry .

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - This study quantifies the causal effect of birth weight on cardiovascular biomarkers in adulthood using the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS). We apply a multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) method that provides a novel approach to improve inference in causal analysis based on a mediation framework. The results show that birth weight is linked to triglyceride levels (β = −0.294; 95% CI [−0.591, 0.003]) but not to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (β = 0.007; 95% CI [−0.168, 0.183]). The total effect of birth weight on triglyceride levels is partly offset by a mediation pathway linking birth weight to adult BMI (β = 0.111; 95% CI [−0.013, 0.234]). The negative total effect is consistent with the fetal programming hypothesis. The positive indirect effect via adult BMI highlights the persistence of body weight throughout a person's life and the adverse effects of high BMI on health. The results are consistent with previous findings that both low birth weight and weight gain increase health risks in adulthood.

AB - This study quantifies the causal effect of birth weight on cardiovascular biomarkers in adulthood using the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS). We apply a multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) method that provides a novel approach to improve inference in causal analysis based on a mediation framework. The results show that birth weight is linked to triglyceride levels (β = −0.294; 95% CI [−0.591, 0.003]) but not to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (β = 0.007; 95% CI [−0.168, 0.183]). The total effect of birth weight on triglyceride levels is partly offset by a mediation pathway linking birth weight to adult BMI (β = 0.111; 95% CI [−0.013, 0.234]). The negative total effect is consistent with the fetal programming hypothesis. The positive indirect effect via adult BMI highlights the persistence of body weight throughout a person's life and the adverse effects of high BMI on health. The results are consistent with previous findings that both low birth weight and weight gain increase health risks in adulthood.

KW - Adult BMI

KW - Birth weight

KW - Causal mediation

KW - LDL cholesterol

KW - Multivariable Mendelian randomization

KW - Triglycerides

U2 - 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106894

DO - 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106894

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85119922041

SN - 0091-7435

VL - 154

JO - Preventive Medicine

JF - Preventive Medicine

M1 - 106894

ER -

Birth weight, adult weight, and cardiovascular biomarkers: Evidence from the Cardiovascular Young Finns Study

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Publication forum classification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this