Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0669 |
| Title: | Low birth weight predicts elevated plasma cortisol concentrations in adults from 3 populations |
| Author(s): | Phillips DI, Walker BR, Reynolds RM, Flanagan DE, Wood PJ, Osmond C, Barker DJ, Whorwood CB |
| Reference: | Hypertension. 2000 Jun;35(6):1301-6 |
| Place of Study: | UK, Australia |
| Abstract: | The authors investigated the relation between birth weight and fasting plasma cortisol concentrations and the association of cortisol with current blood pressure in population samples of 165 men and women born in Adelaide, South Australia, from 1975 to 1976, 199 men and women born in Preston, UK, from 1935 to 1943, and 306 women born in East Hertfordshire, UK, from 1923 to 1930. Fasting plasma cortisol was measured in plasma samples obtained between 8 and 10 AM. Blood pressure was measured with an automated sphygmomanometer. Low birth weight was associated with raised fasting plasma cortisol concentrations in all 3 populations. A combined analysis that allowed for differences in the gender composition, age, and body mass index between the studies showed that cortisol concentrations fell by 23.9 nmol/L per kilogram increase in birth weight (95% CI 9.6 to 38.2, P<0.001). Fasting plasma cortisol concentrations also correlated positively with the subjects' current blood pressure. However, the association between cortisol and blood pressure was most marked in subjects who were obese (P=0.038 for interaction between body mass index and cortisol, P=0.01 for interaction between waist-to-hip ratio and cortisol). These results show that low birth weight is associated with raised fasting plasma cortisol concentrations. Increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may link low birth weight with raised blood pressure in adult life
|
| Keyword(s): | birth weight, cortisol, hypertension, obesity |
| Discussion: | No discussion mentioned for this entry |
| See Also: | No related entries mentioned for this entry |
Go Back | New Keyword Search