Variation In Stature Research Articles

Cadence matters: Influence of cadence on spinal load during running

BackgroundRunning exposes the body to physiological and mechanical stresses that generate musculoskeletal injuries, such as low back pain due to large spinal loading. Increasing running cadence may reduce impact forces and spinal shrinkage. Research questionThis study aimed to determine the relationship between spinal loading and running cadence. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 15 runners from the local community (36 ± 11 years; 23 ± 2 kg.m−2, and 8 ± 9 years of running experience) who ran for 30 min (R30) and 60 min (R60) at a constant speed (10 km.h−1). The spinal loading was assessed via fine stature variation measurements before the run (baseline) at R30 and R60. Cadence was monitored via a wristwatch. The cadence ranged from 150 to 180 steps.min−1. A t-test was used to compare stature loss between R30 and R60 (relative to baseline), and a stepwise linear regression equation was used to identify the relationship between cadence and stature variation in each instant. ResultsThere was a stature loss throughout the race (R30 = 5.27 ± 1.92 mm and R60 =7.51 ± 2.51 mm). A linear regression analysis revealed a negative relationship between stature loss and cadence, indicating that running at a faster cadence produces smaller spinal loading than running at slower cadences after R60 (R2 = 0.38; p<0.05). SignificanceIncreasing running cadence might cause less spinal loading than running with a slower cadence, which may reduce the risk of injury and back disorders in runners.

Comparison of waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio as predictors of clustering of cardiovascular risk factors among middle-aged people in rural Khanh Hoa, Vietnam.

Given the population-level variation in stature, a universal cut-off for waist circumference (WC) may not be appropriate for some populations. We compared the performance of WC and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to detect the clustering of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in rural Vietnam. We obtained data from a baseline survey of the Khanh Hoa Cardiovascular Study comprising 2942 middle-aged residents (40-60 years). We used areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC), net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) to compare the performance of WC and WHtR in predicting CVD risk clustering (≥2 of the following risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and elevated C-reactive protein). The optimal cut-off values for WC were 81.8 and 80.7 cm for men and women, respectively. Regarding the clustering of CVD risk factors, the AUROC (95% CI) of WC and WHtR were 0.707 (0.676 to 0.739) and 0.719 (0.689 to 0.749) in men, and 0.682 (0.654 to 0.709) and 0.690 (0.663 to 0.717) in women, respectively. Compared with WC, WHtR had a better NRI (0.229; 0.102-0.344) and IDI (0.012; 0.004-0.020) in men and a better NRI (0.154; 0.050-0.257) in women. The optimal WC cut-off for Vietnamese men was approximately 10 cm below the recommended Asian cut-off. WHtR might perform slightly better in predicting the clustering of CVD risk factors among the rural population in Vietnam.

SHOX Variations in Idiopathic Short Stature in North India and a Review of Cases from Asian Countries

Short stature homeobox (SHOX) haploinsufficiency underlies idiopathic short stature (ISS) and Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis. The worldwide prevalence of SHOX variations in ISS varies from 2.5% to 15.0%. The aim of this study was to assess the implication of SHOX variation in ISS in North Indians and compare this with other cases of SHOX variations from Asian population. SHOX gene analysis was carried out by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification followed by Sanger sequencing in 54 patients with variable phenotypes. Comparison with other reports in a meta-analysis comprising the current study and 11 previous studies (n=979) was performed. SHOX analysis resulted in 12.9% positivity (7.4% deletions and 5.5% duplications). SHOX association was seen significantly related to gender, with predominance in females (p=0.047). Short arms and forearms were the only significantly associated trait seen in 51.9% of children. The overall prevalence of SHOX variation was 15.2% in Asians with ISS. No significant difference was found in geographical region-specific analysis. This study summarises findings from the last decade and provides an updated picture of the prevalence of SHOX variations in Asians, emphasizing their potential as therapeutic targets in ISS patients. Further high quality, large investigations including functional validation is warranted to validate this association.

Establishing an anthropometric database: A case for the Portuguese working population

Up-to-date anthropometric databases can help design appropriate workstations and equipment, reducing occupational accidents and disorders. The primary aim of this study was to create a company database to support the hypothesis that the latest anthropometric database for the Portuguese working population was outdated. Through the traditional manual measurement method, this work collected data on 27 dimensions from 343 workers in an industry in Northern Portugal. The interclass correlation coefficient showed high agreeability intra- and inter-evaluators with average values of 0.940 and 0.950, respectively. Socioeconomic aspects of the sample population, including gender, immigration, and age, were evaluated. Statistical analysis included correlations between the 27 anthropometric dimensions, age, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Among the main findings, men displayed larger average dimensions than women except for hip breadth, and female body measures decreased more with age than males. Men were 1.6 times more likely to be overweight than women, whereas women were twice more likely to be obese. Concerning working shifts, individuals on the night shift showed an increased tendency to be overweight or obese (BMI>25). Since the previous database employed a different method (photogrammetric), it was possible to compare only five dimensions (stature, knee height, elbow height, hip breadth, and abdominal depth) through mean absolute differences. Variations in the population stature and knee and elbow heights support this work's hypothesis and underscore the need to establish and update the Portuguese anthropometric database with a reliable and reproducible method.

Long-term trends in human body size track regional variation in subsistence transitions and growth acceleration linked to dairying

Evidence for a reduction in stature between Mesolithic foragers and Neolithic farmers has been interpreted as reflective of declines in health, however, our current understanding of this trend fails to account for the complexity of cultural and dietary transitions or the possible causes of phenotypic change. The agricultural transition was extended in primary centers of domestication and abrupt in regions characterized by demic diffusion. In regions such as Northern Europe where foreign domesticates were difficult to establish, there is strong evidence for natural selection for lactase persistence in relation to dairying. We employ broad-scale analyses of diachronic variation in stature and body mass in the Levant, Europe, the Nile Valley, South Asia, and China, to test three hypotheses about the timing of subsistence shifts and human body size, that: 1) the adoption of agriculture led to a decrease in stature, 2) there were different trajectories in regions of in situ domestication or cultural diffusion of agriculture; and 3) increases in stature and body mass are observed in regions with evidence for selection for lactase persistence. Our results demonstrate that 1) decreases in stature preceded the origins of agriculture in some regions; 2) the Levant and China, regions of in situ domestication of species and an extended period of mixed foraging and agricultural subsistence, had stable stature and body mass over time; and 3) stature and body mass increases in Central and Northern Europe coincide with the timing of selective sweeps for lactase persistence, providing support for the "Lactase Growth Hypothesis."

A Preliminary Study of Organ Weight After Histological Exclusion of Abnormality During Autopsy in the Adult Population of Uttarakhand, India.

Organomegaly can be a strong predictor of an underlying pathological condition. There are many standard tables available in various texts listing the normal organ weight range, yet there is a lack of a standard table that is accepted globally. The main reason behind this is variation in organ weight due to socioeconomic status, geographical variation, and racial and stature variation among different global populations. The Western population has different stature compared to our population, that is, residents of Uttarakhand, India.Different studies tabulated organ weights in different regions of the world and correlated with different bodily parameters such as sex, race, stature, BMI, etc, which have shown a significant variation. There are different sets of data available that cannot be accepted universally due to regional variation. Most of the studies done in various parts of the world do not specify the condition of the organ, whether it was normal at the time of study or not. The methods of dissection of organs were also not explained in different studies.In this study, a total of eight organs were weighed from 137 autopsies conducted at the mortuary of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh over a period of 1.5 years. It was found that the average brain weighed in males was 1313.2 gm (±127.7 gm) and among females, it was 1218.0 gm (±122.82 gm). The weight of the heart was 310.1 gm (±83.97 gm) in males and 241.2 gm (±71.42 gm) in females. Right and left lungs weighed 499.4 gm (±207.5 gm)/407.5 gm (±128.66 gm) and 459.6 gm (±179.19 gm)/369.4 gm (±144.17 gm) among males and females, respectively. The liver weight was 1477.0 gm (±370.52 gm) in males and 1309.0 gm (±274.18 gm) among females. Spleen weighed 154.0 gm (±74.63 gm) in males and 156.0 gm (±65.0 gm) in females. The right and left kidneys weighed 125.9 gm (±37.92 gm)/108.1 gm (±28.80 gm) and 126.3 gm (±31.26 gm)/106.6 gm (±22.4 gm) among males and females, respectively. In our study, we have done a histological examination to rule out any pathological condition before including the weight of the organs in the study.The present study is to derive a standard organ weight among the inhabitants of Uttarakhand, India, and to look for a variation in organ weight among different studies done in the past in different regions of the world.

Growth, body composition and bone mineral density among pubertal male athletes: intra-individual 12-month changes and comparisons between soccer players and swimmers

BackgroundPuberty is a period of intense changes in human body and, additionally, participation in sports is viewed as prominent form of physical activity among male adolescent athletes. The current study was aimed to examine the intra-individual changes in body composition and bone tissue during years of maximal growth and the effect of 12-month participation in sports contrasting in mechanical impact.MethodsThe sample included 40 male adolescent athletes (soccer: n = 20; swimming: n = 20) aged 12.57 ± 0.37 years who were followed for 12 months. Stature and body mass were measured, bone mineral content (BMC), areal bone mineral density (aBMD), lean soft and fat tissues assessed using DXA. Food intake was estimated using a questionnaires and training sessions individually monitored. Repeated measures ANOVA tested the differences between sports and 12-month intra-individual variation (time moments: TM1, TM2). The analyses on aBMD for total body and total body less head were repeated controlling for variation in stature at baseline.ResultsSoccer players completed 63 ± 31 sessions (95 ± 47 h). Respective values for swimmers were 248 ± 28 sessions and 390 ± 56 h. In general, the analysis of aBMD as dependent variable evidenced significant effect of sport-associated variation (F = 5.254, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.35) and 12-month increments, particularly at lower limbs (F = 97.238, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.85). Respective mean values for aBMD were SCCTM1 = 0.885 g.cm−2, SWMTM1 = 0.847 g.cm−2, SCCTM2 = 0.939 g.cm−2, SWMTM2 = 0.880. Regarding the lean soft tissue, the magnitude of effects was very large for intra-individual variation (F = 223.043, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.92) and moderate between sports (F = 7.850, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.41): SCCTM1 = 30.6 kg, SWMTM1 = 34.9 kg, SCCTM2 = 35.8 kg, SWMTM2 = 40.5 kg). Finally, d-cohen values reporting percentage of intra-individual changes in aBMD between soccer players ad swimmers were large for the trochanter (d = 1.2; annual increments: SCC = 8.1%, SWM = 3.6%).ConclusionPuberty appeared as a period of significant intra-individual changes in lean soft tissue and bone mineral density. With increasing accumulated training experience, mean difference between sports contrasting in mechanical impact tended to me more pronounced in particular at the lower limbs.

An integrative skeletal and paleogenomic analysis of stature variation suggests relatively reduced health for early European farmers

Human culture, biology, and health were shaped dramatically by the onset of agriculture ∼12,000 y B.P. This shift is hypothesized to have resulted in increased individual fitness and population growth as evidenced by archaeological and population genomic data alongside a decline in physiological health as inferred from skeletal remains. Here, we consider osteological and ancient DNA data from the same prehistoric individuals to study human stature variation as a proxy for health across a transition to agriculture. Specifically, we compared “predicted” genetic contributions to height from paleogenomic data and “achieved” adult osteological height estimated from long bone measurements for 167 individuals across Europe spanning the Upper Paleolithic to Iron Age (∼38,000 to 2,400 B.P.). We found that individuals from the Neolithic were shorter than expected (given their individual polygenic height scores) by an average of −3.82 cm relative to individuals from the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic (P = 0.040) and −2.21 cm shorter relative to post-Neolithic individuals (P = 0.068), with osteological vs. expected stature steadily increasing across the Copper (+1.95 cm relative to the Neolithic), Bronze (+2.70 cm), and Iron (+3.27 cm) Ages. These results were attenuated when we additionally accounted for genome-wide genetic ancestry variation: for example, with Neolithic individuals −2.82 cm shorter than expected on average relative to pre-Neolithic individuals (P = 0.120). We also incorporated observations of paleopathological indicators of nonspecific stress that can persist from childhood to adulthood in skeletal remains into our model. Overall, our work highlights the potential of integrating disparate datasets to explore proxies of health in prehistory.

Genetic variation in PLAG1 is associated with early fertility in Australian Brahman cattle.

Variation in the genome region coding for PLAG1 has well-documented associations with skeletal growth and age at puberty in cattle. However, the influence of PLAG1 on other economically important traits such as cow stayability has not yet been explored. Here we investigate the effect of PLAG1 variation on early and later in life female fertility, as well as size and growth, in a well-phenotyped Australian Brahman herd. Yearly pregnancy and productivity records were collected from 2,839 genotyped Brahman cows and used to generate fertility, growth, and weight phenotypes. A variant on chromosome 14 in PLAG1 (NC_037341.1:g.23338890G>T, rs109815800) was previously determined to be a putative causative mutation associated with variation in cattle stature. The imputed PLAG1 genotype at this variant was isolated for each animal and the effect of PLAG1 genotype on each trait was estimated using linear modeling. Regardless of how heifer fertility was measured, there was a significant (P < 0.05) and desirable relationship between the additive effects of PLAG1 genotype and successful heifer fertility. Heifers with two copies of the alternate allele (TT) conceived earlier and had higher pregnancy and calving rates. However, the effects of PLAG1 genotype on fertility began to diminish as cows aged and did not significantly influence stayability at later ages. While there was no effect of genotype on growth, PLAG1 had a negative effect on mature cow weight (P < 0.01), where females with two copies of the alternate allele (TT) were significantly smaller than those with either one or none. Selection emphasis on improved Brahman heifer fertility will likely increase the frequency of the T allele of rs109815800, which may also increase herd profitability and long-term sustainability through improved reproductive efficiency and reduced mature cow size.

Association of age at menarche with adult height and sitting height in young Polish females.

The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between the age at menarche and adult stature as well as sitting height and Cormic index in adulthood. Analyzed traits included also relative body height, expressed as a percentage of mid parental height, which may be regarded as an indicator of individual target height. Data were collected in a cross-sectional survey among 1257 female university students, aged 19-25 y. Height and sitting height were measured. A survey was used to collect data on the examined females' age at menarche, their socio-economic status and their parents' height. The onset of menstruation before 12 years of age was classified as early, aged 12-14 y. as average, and above 14 years as late. The present study reported statistically significant differences in adult stature in relation to the age at menarche. Women with early menarche reached the shortest stature while women with late menarche - the tallest. The differences were statistically significant also when the analysis considered parents' stature and socio-economic status. No statistically significant differences in sitting height or the Cormic index depending on the age at menarche were found. We may conclude that irrespective of genetic factors (short, medium-height or tall parents) and environmental factors (low, medium or high socio-economic status), women whose first menstruation occurs at a younger age reach shorter stature and lower percentage of mid parental height than women who have their first menstruation at an older age. The absence of differences in sitting height and the Cormic index between individuals of different ages at menarche indicates that the variation in stature results from the length of lower limbs.

Leaf trait expression varies with tree size and ecological strategy in a subtropical forest

Abstract How the dramatic vertical environmental gradients in closed canopy forests shape intraspecific variation in the functional traits of tree species and their ecological strategies is not well understood. In an Asian subtropical forest, we tested the hypothesis that, because species’ maximum height and shade tolerance determine the lifetime environmental variation of a tree, they should be correlated with the magnitude of intraspecific variation in leaf traits and how strongly it depends on tree size. We collected data on three vertical environmental variables, tree size and four leaf traits of 3,880 trees of 24 species in a subtropical forest. Air temperature and relative humidity displayed linear, and insolation displayed nonlinear, variation with height above‐ground. Intraspecific trait variation (ITV) varied significantly among species, for all but one understorey tree species, and also varied with tree size for at least one trait. Many trait‐size relationships were nonlinear with inflection points near the height where insolation dramatically increased. While ITV did not correlate with species’ maximum height nor shade tolerance, the amount of ITV explained by size (SDTV) and the rate of change in trait expression with size did. Greater ITV is thought to be associated with greater environmental heterogeneity, and yet strong evidence supporting this has not always been found. Our findings shed new light on how trait plasticity is phenotypically integrated with tree species’ ecological strategy by pointing to the importance of accounting for tree size, since SDTV, rather than ITV, was associated with strategy variation in maximum height and shade tolerance. Our study improves understanding of tree size's effect on leaf trait expression, and implies that SDTV is not only a key mechanism promoting interspecific variation in tree stature, contributing to species coexistence via vertical niche partitioning, but is also likely to influence the effects of climate change on forests by constraining tree responses to vertical environmental gradients. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Study of diurnal variation of stature among MBBS students in a Medical College of Andhra Pradesh

Diurnal variation in stature is one potentially significant source of error in the evaluation of short term height. Diurnal decrease in stature may affect the reliability of height measurement. The aim of the present study was to establish diurnal variation of stature, and to study the degree of differences in daily height measurement. A total batch of 201 students of 2nd MBBS from our institute was selected for the study. But, on the day of the study, 4 students did not show up because of some medical and personal reasons. Hence, the study was conducted over the remaining 197 students. The heights of the participants were measured twice in a day. The first measurements were taken between 08:00 AM to 09:00 AM, and the second measurements between 04:00 PM to 05:00 PM. The data collected was thoroughly screened and subjected to statistical analysis. Results revealed diurnal variation in height among each individual and also significant difference in diurnal variation of stature between male and female. There is a definite variation i.e., decrease in height of an individual during the course of the day. There is also a gender difference in this variation of height i.e., males show greater height loss compared to females.

Genome analyses revealed genetic admixture and selection signatures in Bos indicus

The genomic diversity and relationship among seven diverse cattle breeds viz. Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Gir, Vechur, Ongole, Kangayam and Hariana were investigated in 132 random samples based on high density SNP array comprising > 777 K SNPs. A total of 1993 SNPs (0.25% of the total) having greater power (FST ≥ 0.20) to differentiate these cattle populations were identified, and utilized to partition genome of each animal into a predefined number of clusters. The structure of these cattle indicated shared ancestry of dairy breeds viz. Gir, Tharparkar and Sahiwal. Most of the animals (> 76%) of different populations under study except Vechur clustered into their own group of animals called breed. Vechur population retained highest rate of admixture, consistent with its crossing with other breeds. Ongole, Kangayam and Hariana shared comparatively less of their genome (≤ 15%) with other breeds. The study indicated that all seven breeds evolved from their independent ancestry but there was intermixing of these breeds in the recent past. The selection signatures identified between draft (Kangayam) and dairy breeds included several genes like FAM19A2, RAB31P, BEST3, DGKA, AHCY, PIGU and PFKP which are involved in immune response, metabolic pathway, transportation of glucose and sugars, signaling pathways, cellular processes, cell division and glycolysis regulation, respectively. Moreover, these genomic regions also harbour QTLs affecting milk performance traits. The signatures were also identified even between the dairy breeds. In comparison to large-sized cattle, there were significant differences in the number of QTLs affecting production (body weight, growth rate etc.) and morphological traits (height) in short-statured Vechur breed. The presence of HMGA2 gene in the selection signature on chromosome 5 may explain the variations in stature between these cattle.

Regional differences in short stature in England between 2006 and 2019: A cross-sectional analysis from the National Child Measurement Programme.

Short stature, defined as height for age more than 2 standard deviations (SDs) below the population median, is an important indicator of child health. Short stature (often termed stunting) has been widely researched in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but less is known about the extent and burden in high-income settings. We aimed to map the prevalence of short stature in children aged 4-5 years in England between 2006 and 2019. We used data from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for the school years 2006-2007 to 2018-2019. All children attending state-maintained primary schools in England are invited to participate in the NCMP, and heights from a total of 7,062,071 children aged 4-5 years were analysed. We assessed short stature, defined as a height-for-age standard deviation score (SDS) below -2 using the United Kingdom WHO references, by sex, index of multiple deprivation (IMD), ethnicity, and region. Geographic clustering of short stature was analysed using spatial analysis in SaTScan. The prevalence of short stature in England was 1.93% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92-1.94). Ethnicity adjusted spatial analyses showed geographic heterogeneity of short stature, with high prevalence clusters more likely in the North and Midlands, leading to 4-fold variation between local authorities (LAs) with highest and lowest prevalence of short stature. Short stature was linearly associated with IMD, with almost 2-fold higher prevalence in the most compared with least deprived decile (2.56% (2.53-2.59) vs. 1.38% (1.35-1.41)). There was ethnic heterogeneity: Short stature prevalence was lowest in Black children (0.64% (0.61-0.67)) and highest in Indian children (2.52% (2.45-2.60)) and children in other ethnic categories (2.57% (2.51-2.64)). Girls were more likely to have short stature than boys (2.09% (2.07-2.10) vs. 1.77% (1.76-1.78), respectively). Short stature prevalence declined over time, from 2.03% (2.01-2.05) in 2006-2010 to 1.82% (1.80-1.84) in 2016-2019. Short stature declined at all levels of area deprivation, with faster declines in more deprived areas, but disparities by IMD quintile were persistent. This study was conducted cross-sectionally at an area level, and, therefore, we cannot make any inferences about the individual causes of short stature. In this study, we observed a clear social gradient and striking regional variation in short stature across England, including a North-South divide. These findings provide impetus for further investigation into potential socioeconomic influences on height and the factors underlying regional variation.

Population history and ecology, in addition to climate, influence human stature and body proportions

Worldwide variation in human stature and limb proportions is widely accepted to reflect thermal adaptation, but the contribution of population history to this variation is unknown. Furthermore, stature and relative lower limb length (LLL) show substantial plastic responses to environmental stressors, e.g., nutrition, pathogen load, which covary with climate. Thus ecogeographic patterns may go beyond temperature-based selection. We analysed global variation in stature, sitting height and absolute and relative LLL using large worldwide samples of published anthropometric data from adult male (n = 571) and female (n = 268) populations in relation to temperature, humidity, and net primary productivity (NPP). Population history was modeled using spatial eigenvector mapping based on geographic distances reflecting the hypothesized pattern for the spread of modern humans out of Africa. Regression models account for ~ 50% of variation in most morphological variables. Population history explains slightly more variation in stature, sitting height and LLL than the environmental/climatic variables. After adjusting for population history, associations between (usually maximum) temperature and LLL are consistent with Allen's "rule" and may drive similar relationships with stature. NPP is a consistent negative predictor of anthropometry, which may reflect the growth-limiting effects of lower environmental resource accessibility (inversely related to NPP) and/or pathogen load.

A cross-sectional analysis of the muscle strength, spinal shrinkage, and recovery during a working day of military police officers.

ObjectiveMilitary personnel has a large prevalence of back pain, especially those involved in patrolling routines, as they wear heavy protective equipment. Patrolling includes long periods of sustaining the protective equipment in a sitting or in a motor vehicle (motorcycle or car). Thus, understanding spinal loading of military police officers after patrolling by car (CAR; n = 14), motorcycle (MOT; n = 14), and administrative (ADM; n = 14) routines is relevant to establish preventive strategies.MethodsThe torque of the trunk and working and anthropometric characteristics were assessed to explain spinal loading using stature variation measures. Precise stature measures were performed before and after a 6 h journey (LOSS) and 20 min after a resting posture (RECOV). The trunk extensor (PTE BM−1) and flexor (PTF BM−1) muscles' isometric peak torque were measured before the working journey.ResultsThe LOSS was similar between CAR and MOT (4.8 and 5.8 mm, respectively) after 6 h of patrolling. The ADM presented the lowest LOSS (2.8 mm; P < .05). No changes in RECOV between groups were observed (P > .05). Vibration may explain the greater spinal loading involved in patrolling in comparison to the ADM. A GLM analysis revealed that BMI was the only explanatory factor for stature loss. No independent variables explained RECOV. The ability of the trunk muscles to produce force did not influence LOSS or RECOV.ConclusionsMilitary police officers involved in patrolling may require greater post‐work periods and strategies designed to reduce the weight of the protective apparatus to dissipate spinal loading. The external load used in patrolling is a relevant spinal loading factor.

An integrative approach to studying plasticity in growth disruption and outcomes: A bioarchaeological case study of Napoleonic soldiers.

The aim of this study was to investigate how much variation in adult stature and body mass can be explained by growth disruption among soldiers who served in Napoleon's Grand Army during the Russian Campaign of 1812. Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) were recorded as representations of early life growth disruption, while the impact on future growth was assessed using maximum femur length (n = 73) as a proxy for stature and maximum femoral head diameter (n = 25) as a proxy for body mass. LEH frequency, severity, age at first formation, and age at last formation served as explanatory variables in a multiple regression analysis to test the effect of these variables on maximum femur length and maximum femoral head diameter. The multiple regression model produced statistically significant results for maximum femur length (F-statistic = 3.05, df = 5 and 67, P = .02), with some variation in stature (adjusted r2 = 0.13) attributable to variation in growth disruption. The multiple regression model for maximum femoral head diameter was not statistically significant (F-statistic = 1.87, df = 5 and 19, P = .15). We hypothesized stress events during early life growth and development would have significant, negative, and cumulative effects on growth outcomes in adulthood. The results did not support our hypothesis. Instead, some variables and interactions had negative effects on stature, whereas others had positive effects. This is likely due to catch-up growth, the relationship between acute and chronic stress and growth, resilience, and plasticity in human growth over the life course.

The Rise and Fall of the Secular Trend in Body Height in Sardinia: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis

ObjectiveOver the last century, a progressive rise in stature, known as the ‘secular trend’, was documented worldwide, and especially in Sardinia, it has reached a peak in Europe. However, this situation recently ceased in several populations. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the stature secular trend has significantly leveled off in the Sardinian younger generations. MethodsHeight measurements were retrieved from a database of patients undergoing digestive endoscopy, spanning generations between 1920 and 1990. Sex-specific principal component regression models were fitted to decompose stature variation into the contribution of age, period, and birth cohort. ResultsA steady increase in stature was observed in generations born after 1920, with an upward surge in those born after 1950. However, a significant leveling off was observed among cohorts born after 1970 among both sexes, as mean heights stabilized at 171.1 cm with a standard error (SE) of 0.9 cm among men and a mean of 160.1 cm (SE = 0.9 cm) among women. ConclusionOur findings support a significant slowdown in the secular trend of stature among the latest Sardinian generations. Several factors, including the consumption of low-quality food, lack of physical activity, and late motherhood, among others, may explain the decline in the secular trend.

Net nutrition, insolation, mortality, and the antebellum paradox

When other measures for material welfare are scarce or unreliable, stature is a well-established measure for cumulative net nutrition. The antebellum paradox is the ironic result that average stature decreased during the nineteenth century’s second and third quarters at the same time that wages and income increased. Nevertheless, because of selection concerns, recent criticisms call into question the antebellum paradox’s authenticity. This study illustrates that the nineteenth century’s observed second and third quarter stature diminution was real, but the antebellum paradox is not the timing of the stature decrease but nutrition and disease conditions. Average statures increased with access to pork and dairy, were lower in virulent disease environments, and had an inverted U-shape in both insolation and population density, indicating that the antebellum paradox was resource variation rather than simply stature variation over time.

Education, Altitude, and Humidity Can Interactively Explain Spatial Discrepancy and Predict Short Stature in 213,795 Chinese School Children.

Backgrounds and Objectives: The north–south height distinctions in Chinese children suggest that some geographical–climatic factors could determine height variation of short stature. In a national health survey, we aimed to explore the spatial distribution of short stature on city scales, and detect its socio-economic and geographical–climatic factors.Methods: Data on the prevalence of short stature were obtained from a 2014 cross-sectional survey of China (CNSSCH). In total, 213,795 Han Chinese students aged 7–18 years, from 106 cities across 30 provinces, were included. Both China and World Health Organization (WHO) growth references were adopted to define short stature.Results: A spatial clustering was apparent in the distribution of short stature. After multivariable adjustment, altitude and humidity significantly increased the risk of high prevalence in short stature, according to the WHO (odds ratio [OR] = 1.61 and 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–2.17 and 1.03–1.54) and China (OR = 1.54 and 1.26; 95% CI: 1.15–2.05 and 1.02–1.55) growth references. Additionally, education significantly decreased the risk of high prevalence in short stature according to the WHO (OR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.22–0.74) and China (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.22–0.77) growth references. Combining both altitude >400 m and education <9 years, as well as education <9 years and humidity >70%, received the largest effect-size estimate, and significance retained after multivariable adjustment.Conclusions: Our findings indicate that high altitude and humidity increased the risk of high prevalence in short stature, high education was associated with low prevalence. Additionally, we observed possible interactions between education and altitude/humidity. They may interactively explain spatial discrepancy and predict short stature in Chinese school children. Further validations are necessary.