Birthweight and its association with cardiometabolic risk parameters in rural Maya children from Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

Background

Knowledge about the influence of early developmental factors on cardiometabolic health in the Maya is limited.

Aim

To analyse the relationship between birthweight (BW) and cardiometabolic parameters in a sample of rural Maya children from Yucatan, Mexico.

Subjects and methods

We took anthropometric measurements and obtained data on BW and fasting blood samples in a sample of 75 children aged 5–14 years. Dependent variables were: fat mass index (FMI), body mass index (BMI), glucose (G), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), LDL/HDL and TC/HDL ratios and metabolic index (TGxG/HDL²). Outcomes were transformed to y = 100 log(e)x and the resulting estimates are interpreted as symmetrical percentage differences. The main independent variable was BW z-score. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between BW and outcomes.

Results

An increase of one standard deviation in BW predicted 6.6% (95% CI [–11.6, −1.6]) decrease in HDL and 11% (95% CI [3.7, 18.4]), 7.8% (95% CI [2.3, 13.2]) and 19.6% (95% CI [3.1, 36]) increases in LDL/HDL, TC/HDL and metabolic index, respectively.

Conclusion

Higher birthweights were associated with adverse levels of biochemical parameters in this sample of rural Maya children.

Keywords:

• Birthweight
• cardiometabolic health
• Maya
• Yucatan
• Mexico

Acknowledgements

We thank the mothers and children in Dzeal for their participation in this study. We thank Isai Dorantes for his assistance with anthropometric measurements. The authors acknowledge the fieldwork contribution of MSc. Jasset Puc Vázquez. We also appreciate the support provided by the teachers during our stay at the schools. We thank Dr. Will Johnson from Loughborough University for his advice in the statistical analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.