Original scientific paper
Weight Variation by Sex and Nature of Risk Factors in High-Risk Infants: An Evolutionary Perspective
Youngmee Ahn
Ralph M. Garruto
Abstract
A retrospective cohort study was conducted to explore growth variation during the intrauterine and early postnatal
period by sex and nature of high-risk factors (i.e. physiological and pathological) in 831 Korean infants at a University
hospital. The results showed that infants with a physiological risk showed a more congruent intrauterine growth pattern
compared to those with a pathological risk. Particularly with a physiological risk, female infants experienced more
compatible intrauterine and postnatal growth than males, although male infants were heavier than female infants at a
given gestational age. In conclusion bigger may not necessarily be better for prenatal growth in humans. A more confluent
intrauterine growth in infants with physiological risk can be beneficial for early postnatal catch-up growth. From an
evolutionary perspective, female infants with a physiological risk may keep their advantageous edge over male infants
during the early postnatal period although such an advantage may not be present with a pathological condition.
Keywords
evolution; gestational age; birth weight; growth variation
Hrčak ID:
26913
URI
Publication date:
3.12.2007.
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