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Firstborns may be at higher risk for metabolic, CV diseases
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Researchers in New Zealand suggest that firstborn children are at a greater risk for developing metabolic or cardiovascular diseases later in life, according to data published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
“Although birth order alone is not a predictor of metabolic or cardiovascular disease, being the firstborn child in a family can contribute to a person’s overall risk,” study researcher Wayne S. Cutfield, MbChB, DCH, FRACP, of the University of Auckland, said in a press release.
The researchers measured the height, weight, fasting lipid and hormonal profiles; DXA-derived body composition; and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring of 85 healthy prepubertal children aged 4 to 11 years (32 firstborn; 53 later-born).
According to data, firstborn children were approximately 3 cm taller (height standard deviation [SD] scores: 0.88 vs. 0.39; P=.009) and were slimmer (BMI SD scores: –0.05 vs. 0.39; P=.048) compared with later-born children. Additionally, the researchers wrote that firstborn children had a 27% increase in insulin-like growth factor I concentrations (227 ng/mL vs. 173 ng/mL; P=.002), which was expected with their height.
Compared with later-born children, insulin sensitivity decreased by 21% among firstborn children (8.4 × 10–4/min per mU/L vs. 10.6 × 10–4/min per mU/L; P=.019), according to data. Upon further research, Cutfield and colleagues found that firstborns displayed higher daytime systolic BP (+5 mm Hg; P=.032) and diastolic BP (+4 mm Hg; P=.029).
“Our results indicate firstborn children have these risk factors, but more research is needed to determine how that translates into adult cases of diabetes, hypertension and other conditions,” Cutfield said.
The researchers wrote that larger adult studies should be conducted to confirm these findings.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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