Is the growth of the fetus of a non-smoking mother influenced by the smoking of either grandmother while pregnant?

ABSTRACT:

Background

There are animal data that indicate that prenatal environmental exposures have sex-specific effects on subsequent generations. In humans, an increase in birthweight has been reported if the maternal grandmother had smoked in the pregnancy giving rise to the mother. Here we assess whether prenatal exposure of either parent to cigarette smoke has a sex-specific effect on the grandchild's birth measurements.

Methods

Information from 12707 maternal and 9677 paternal grandmothers of children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) concerned whether they had smoked while expecting the study parent. Study children were weighed and measured at birth. Analyses to test effects of grandmaternal prenatal smoking used multiple regression allowing for se

SUBMITTER: Miller LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3913581 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature