Determinants of Growth During Early Infancy

Document Type

Article

Authors

M D. A. F. Hoffmans, University of Leiden
G L. Obermann-De-Boer, University of Leiden
E I. M. Florack, University of Leiden
M van Kampen-Donker, University of Leiden
D Kromhout, Institute of Social Medicine, University of Leiden, The Netherlands

Abstract

Growth velocity was studied in 161 well nourished infants of normal length during the first four months of life in relation to sex, birth size, genetic and pregnancy characteristics and nutritional factors, including feeding practice and introduction time of supplementary feeding (beikost). Prepregnancy weight of the mother and gestational age and weight gain during pregnancy were positively related to birth weight. Smoking habits of the mother were inversely related to birth weight. These relations remained significant after multiple regression analysis. Girls and breast-fed infants had a significantly lower energy intake at 4 months compared to boys and bottlefed infants. The main determinants of growth velocity were sex, birth weight, smoking habits of the mother and energy intake. Boys and infants of smoking mothers grew significantly faster than girls and infants of nonsmoking mothers. Birth weight was inversely related to growth velocity, and energy intake showed a positive association with growth velocity. The considered variables in a model of linear structural relationships accounted for 38% of the variance in birth weight and 24% of the variance in growth velocity.

Recommended Citation

Hoffmans, M D. A. F.; Obermann-De-Boer, G L.; Florack, E I. M.; van Kampen-Donker, M; and Kromhout, D (1988) "Determinants of Growth During Early Infancy," Human Biology: Vol. 60: Iss. 2, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol60/iss2/6