Early weight gain and the development of asthma and atopy in children

Purpose of reviewTo provide perspective to the most recent evidence regarding the association between early weight gain in infancy and the development of asthma and atopy during childhood, and highlight the potential mechanisms involved.Recent findingsRecently, several birth cohort studies involving more than 25000 children have found a consistent association between early weight gain in the first 2 years of life and incident asthma during school age. Methodology differs substantially between the studies and complicates the establishment of definite conclusions. Specific mechanisms for this association have been proposed, including impairment in lung development and elevated levels of growth factors and cytokines associated with airway inflammation and remodeling. A limited number of studies indicate that early weight gain in infancy is also associated with recurrent wheezing during preschool age but not with the development of atopy.SummaryA consistent association between early weight gain in infancy and incident asthma during school age has been observed in several cohort studies. the identification of this modifiable risk factor for the development of asthma opens the possibility of preventive intervention. Additional studies are necessary to clarify the involved mechanisms and some pending questions, such as the influence of early weight gain in asthma phenotypes and severity.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, BR-80060000 Curitiba, Parana, BrazilABC Med Sch, Santo Andre, BrazilWashington Univ, Sch Med, St Louis, MO USASt Louis Childrens Hosp, St Louis, MO 63178 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc