Developmental Origins of Chronic Inflammation: A Review of the Relationship between Birth Weight and C-Reactive Protein

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Citation

deRosset, Leslie & Strutz, Kelly L. (2015). Developmental Origins of Chronic Inflammation: A Review of the Relationship between Birth Weight and C-Reactive Protein. Annals of Epidemiology, 25(7), 539-543.

Abstract

Purpose: The developmental origins of adult disease hypothesis suggests that the intrauterine environment may program postnatal health outcomes through mechanisms such as chronic inflammation. The purpose of this article was to review the literature on the association between infant birth weight and C-reactive protein (CRP), markers of the fetal environment and inflammation, respectively.
Methods: We used PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, the citation lists of the reviewed literature, and recommendations from experts in the field to identify potential articles. Inclusion criteria for the studies, regardless of study design, included human subjects, documented or self-reported infant birth weight, and a minimum of one measurement of CRP (during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood).
Results: Several studies demonstrated a statistically significant inverse association between birth weight and CRP in adulthood, although in many cases only after controlling for markers of current adiposity. No studies significantly linked birth weight to CRP in childhood or adolescence.
Conclusions: Longitudinal studies, including multigenerational studies, are needed to further understand whether adult CRP has origins in the fetal environment.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2015.01.003

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2015

Journal Title

Annals of Epidemiology

Author(s)

deRosset, Leslie
Strutz, Kelly L.