Background: Low birth weight and subsequent rapid child growth are associated with later blood pressure levels. The role of maternal and child nutrition in this association remains unclear.
Methods: We studied 450 men and women (ages 21-29 years) born during a randomized trial of protein-energy supplementation (Atole) vs low energy/no protein supplementation (Fresco) in pregnancy and early childhood in four rural Guatemalan villages from 1969 to 1977.
Results: Protein-energy supplementation was not associated with differences in blood pressure in adulthood (diastolic blood pressure (DBP): beta = 0.69 mm Hg, 95% confidence internal (CI) (20.82-2.19); P = 0.37; systolic blood pressure (SBP): beta = 0.17 mm Hg, 95% CI (21.68-2.02); P = 0.86). Within the Atole group, maternal height was associated with later SBP (0.22 mm Hg/cm, 95% CI (20.002-0.45); P = 0.05). No other associations between maternal nutritional status, birth size, child growth, or supplement intake were observed for adult blood pressure.
Conclusions: Our data do not support the role of maternal nutrition during pregnancy, birth size, or early child growth in programming adult blood pressure. Likewise, we found no effect of protein-energy supplementation in pregnancy or in early childhood on blood pressure in young adults.