Affiliation:
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Oulu University Hospital Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia Oulu Finland
2. Medical Research Center Research Unit of Clinical Medicine University of Oulu Oulu Finland
3. Department of Children and Adolescents Oulu University Hospital Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia Oulu Oulu Finland
4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital Helsinki Finland
5. Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology Imperial College London London UK
6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology HFR – Cantonal Hospital of Fribourg and University of Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundLow testosterone (T) levels in men associate with increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. However, most studies are cross‐sectional with follow‐up‐time < 10 years, and data on early growth are limited.ObjectiveTo compare prenatal factors and body mass index (BMI) development from birth to age 46 in relation to low T at age 31.Materials and methodsMen with low T (T < 12.1 nmol/L, n = 132) and men with normal T at age 31 (n = 2561) were derived from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. Prenatal factors, longitudinal weight and height data from birth to age 14, and cross‐sectional weight and height data at ages 31 and 46, and waist‐hip‐ratio (WHR) and T levels at age 31 were analyzed. Longitudinal modeling and timing of adiposity rebound (AR, second BMI rise at age 5–7 years) were calculated from fitted BMI curves. Results were adjusted for mother's pre‐pregnancy BMI and smoking status, birth weight for gestational age, alcohol consumption, education level, smoking status, and WHR at age 31.ResultsNeither gestational age nor birth weight was associated with low T at age 31; however, maternal obesity during gestation was more prevalent among men with low T (9.8% vs. 3.5%, adjusted aOR: 2.43 [1.19−4.98]). Men with low T had earlier AR (5.28 vs. 5.82, aOR: 0.73 [0.56−0.94]) and higher BMI (p < 0.001) from AR onward until age 46. Men with both early AR and low T had the highest BMI from AR onward.ConclusionsIn men, maternal obesity and early weight gain associate with lower T levels at age 31, independently of adulthood abdominal obesity. Given the well‐known health risks related to obesity, and the rising prevalence of maternal obesity, the results of the present study emphasize the importance of preventing obesity that may also affect the later reproductive health of the offspring.
Funder
Oulun Yliopiston Tukisäätiö
Oulun Yliopistollinen Sairaala
Sosiaali- ja Terveysministeriö
Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos
European Regional Development Fund
Subject
Urology,Endocrinology,Reproductive Medicine,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism