Early life environmental exposures and children's growth : A longitudinal study evaluating prenatal exposure for endocrine disrupting chemicals and nutrition in relation to children's growth up to seven years of age

• Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have the potential to disrupt the endocrine system in humans and animals with importance for health and development. Additionally, optimal nutrition during pregnancy is critical for fetal growth and pregnancy outcomes. However, further knowledge on the importance of EDC mixtures and nutrition, on birthweight and growth during childhood is needed. The overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate the associations between prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures and nutrition respectively, with birthweight, growth and body composition in early- and mid-childhood, and to determine if these associations differed by sex. Data from mother-child pairs in the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal, Mother and child, Asthma and allergy (SELMA) study was analyzed, including 26 EDCs in prenatal urine and serum samples, children’s anthropometric and body composition measures up to seven years of age, and sociodemographic data from questionnaires and registers.Results suggest that higher prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures were associated with lower birthweight, and slower weight gain in early childhood, including a later peak growth velocity among girls. At 5.5 and 7 years of age, EDC mixtures were associated with lower BMI, less odds of overweight and less body fat among girls, but more body fat among boys at 7 years of age. Chemicals of concern in the mixtures were e.g., phthalates, bisphenols, perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) and pesticides. Finally, maternal nutrition during pregnancy, i.e., better adherence to nutritional guidelines, was associated with more body fat for boys but less body fat for girls.In conclusion, prenatal exposure to both EDC mixtures and nutrition suggests to have an influence on birthweight, and children´s growth. Several of the found associations also differed by sex. 

• Early life is an important period for growth and development and therefore, sensitive to environmental exposures, such as chemicals and nutrition. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are man-made chemicals, common in everyday population exposure, and have been associated with unfavorable health effects and development. Additionally, optimal nutrition during pregnancy is important for both maternal and fetal health. But we need more knowledge on how these environmental exposures may influence children’s growth and if there are sex specific effects.Twenty-six EDCs were measured in the urine and serum of pregnant women and their children’s growth was measured up to 7 years of age, including birthweight, height, weight, and body fat. Results show that higher levels of EDC mixtures were associated with lower birthweight, slower weight gain, and sex-specific effects on body fat. Also, better nutrition was associated with greater height and sex-specific effects on body fat.The associations were small and not of concern for the individual, but from a population perspective it is an opportunity for improvement. Regulation of EDCs, both persistent and non-persistent, as well as adherence to nutritional guidelines, may be beneficial to promote healthy environments for children’s growth.  

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Endocrine disrupting chemicals

EDC

Nutrition

Pregnancy

Children

Growth

Birthweight

Body composition

Body Fat

BMI

Overweight

Public Health Science

Folkhälsovetenskap

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