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Maternal and pediatric nutrition

Dose–response associations of maternal height and weight with small for gestational age: a meta-analysis

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 106–111 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

Small for gestational age (SGA) may be associated with increased rates of mortality and morbidity not only during the infantile period but also in later life. This study was performed to determine the dose–response relationships of maternal height and weight with risk of SGA.

Subjects/methods

Dose–response meta-analyses were performed to summarize adjusted relative risks of SGA per 1-cm in maternal height and 1-kg increase in weight (linear model) and for varying levels relative to 160 cm in height and 55 kg in weight (nonlinear model). The adjustments for potential confounders were made using the Hamling method. Eight databases, including PubMed (MEDLINE), were searched. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale (NOS).

Results

Totals of 117,114 and 13,049 subjects were extracted from high-quality studies (e.g., NOS score ≥ 8) to evaluate maternal height (n = 7) and weight (n = 3), respectively. Corresponding to P for nonlinearity (P < 0.05), the dose–response relationships were nonlinear rather than linear. The nonlinear model showed that maternal height and weight were significantly and inversely associated with the risk of SGA, regardless of the levels below or above their means (i.e., 160 cm or 55 kg, respectively).

Conclusions

SGA risk may be reduced by increasing maternal height and weight.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful to the staff of the Medical Library of the Japan Medical Association (Tokyo, Japan) for help in retrieving the full texts of the articles. A native check in English language is made at Dolphin Corporation (1005 Kichijyoji Nagatami City Plaza 1-20-1 Kichijyojihonmachi. Musashino, 180–0004, Japan, trust@dolphin-tr.com).

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  1. Department of Medicine and Public Health, Nagoya Medical Science Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan

    Eita Goto

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EG, the corresponding author, is responsible for literature search, figures, study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, and writing.

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Correspondence to Eita Goto.

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Cite this article

Goto, E. Dose–response associations of maternal height and weight with small for gestational age: a meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 106–111 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0432-y

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