Influences of maternal weight on the secondary sex ratio of human offspring

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Less than optimal reproductive conditions may be associated with a secondary sex ratio biased towards females. Body weight represents a critical determinant of reproduction. Accordingly, we evaluated whether preconception body weight and weight gain during pregnancy influence the sex ratio of human offspring. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 10 239 births in 1997–2001. Time of conception, preconception body weight and net weight gain during pregnancy were obtained for 9284 pregnancies. RESULTS: The secondary sex ratio of mothers in the lowest quartile of pre‐pregnancy body weight (P < 0.01). In contrast, the sex ratio of children born by the women in the highest quartile of weight gain during pregnancy appeared lower than that of the first three quartiles (0.493 versus 0.516; P = 0.054). CONCLUSIONS: A low pre‐pregnancy weight and a greater weight gain during pregnancy are both associated with a reduced secondary sex ratio. These data indicate that in women with non‐optimal reproductive/metabolic conditions, a greater attrition is exerted on male than on female offspring.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: