Intrafamilial associations of cardiometabolic risk factors--results of the Ulm Birth Cohort Study

Atherosclerosis. 2015 May;240(1):174-83. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.02.045. Epub 2015 Mar 10.

Abstract

Background: The identification of genetic, early childhood and lifestyle factors related to cardiometabolic risk factors in childhood is important for the development of preventive strategies against cardiovascular diseases. Intrafamilial associations of cardiometabolic risk factors are rarely studied and the few existing results are inconsistent.

Aims: To study the relationship of cardiometabolic risk factors in parent-offspring pairs (trios) of the prospective Ulm Birth Cohort Study (UBCS).

Methods: At the 8-yr follow-up examination of the UBCS weights, heights, waist circumferences (WC), systolic (sysBP) and diastolic blood pressure (diasBP) of n=304 8 yrs old children and their parents were measured. Fasting plasma samples were collected and concentrations of insulin, glucose, retinol-binding-protein 4 (RBP4), adiponectin, leptin, apolipoprotein A and B (ApoA, ApoB) were analyzed.

Results: BMI values and WC were stronger related in father-offspring than in mother-offspring pairs. Adjustment for potential confounders did not change these results. Fasting plasma concentrations of insulin, glucose, RBP4, ApoB, sysBP and diastBP were stronger correlated in mother-offspring than in father-offspring pairs also after adjusting for potential confounders. Offsprings of fathers that have ≥3 cardiometabolic risk factors had 0.74 kg/m2 higher BMI values and 2.34 cm higher WC compared to offsprings of the reference group (both parents having <3 cardiometabolic risk factors). There was a trend for higher fasting plasma insulin concentrations in offsprings where the mother had ≥3 cardiometabolic risk factors compared to offsprings of the reference group.

Conclusion: These results might be explained by gender-specific genetic factors as well as by early life programming.

Keywords: BMI; Correlation; Family; Genetic; Insulin; Perinatal programming; Waist circumference.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adiponectin / blood
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Apolipoprotein B-100 / blood
  • Apolipoproteins A / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / genetics*
  • Child
  • Fathers
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Heredity
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Leptin / blood
  • Life Style
  • Metabolic Diseases / blood
  • Metabolic Diseases / diagnosis
  • Metabolic Diseases / epidemiology
  • Metabolic Diseases / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mothers
  • Pedigree
  • Phenotype
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / metabolism
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Waist Circumference

Substances

  • ADIPOQ protein, human
  • APOB protein, human
  • Adiponectin
  • Apolipoprotein B-100
  • Apolipoproteins A
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Insulin
  • Leptin
  • RBP4 protein, human
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma