Plenary 1: Nutrition in-utero Beyond birthweight: findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

Background – Observational studies have reported associations between size at birth and both higher levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors and increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adult life. It has been suggested that these associations provide evidence of programming in humans. While programming is well recognised in animals the existence and importance of programming in humans is disputed. In this paper I will summarise analyses from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) that have attempted to clarify the meaning of these associations with size at birth and to explore associations between early life exposures and offspring blood pressure. Methods – ALSPAC is a prospective study investigating the health and development of children. 14,541 pregnant women living in one of three Bristol-based health districts in the former County of Avon with an expected delivery date between April 1991 and December 1992 were recruited. Detailed information has been collected from pregnancy onwards using questionnaires, data extraction from medical notes, linkage to routine information and at clinics that the children have been invited to attend from the age of seven years. Results – Birthweight was associated with blood pressure at age 7- in unadjusted models a 1kg higher birthweight was associated with lower systolic blood pressure 0.8mmHg (95 % CI-1.4,-0.3) in boys but not in girls. (1) We have showed that birthweight was positively associated with measures of lean mass (320g per SD increase i