Persistent weight gain between 0 and 4 years of age is associated with higher dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels at 7 years old: Data from the Generation XXI birth cohort

Abstract

Objective: To assess the influence of longitudinal weight gain from 0 to 4 years old on dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) levels at 7 years old. Design: DHEAS levels were measured at 7 years old in a subsample of 587 children from the Generation XXI birth cohort. Weight trajectories (0–4 years of age) were identified using model-based clustering and categorized as “normal weight gain,” “weight gain during infancy,” “weight gain during childhood” and “persistent weight gain.”. Measurements: Differences in DHEAS levels at age 7 between the four weight trajectories were analysed through analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), adjusted for birth weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI). Results: In the crude analysis, compared with the “normal weight gain” trajectory (5.53 (95% CI: 5.10–5.98] µmol/L), DHEAS levels were significantly higher in children in the “persistent weight gain” (8.75 [95% CI: 7.23–10.49] µmol/L, p <.001] and in children in the “weight gain during infancy” trajectories (7.68 [95% CI: 6.22–9.49] µmol/L, p =.021] and marginally significantly higher in children in the “weight gain during childhood” trajectory (6.89 (95% CI: 5.98–8.00) µmol/L; p =.052). In BW- and BMI-adjusted model, a statistically significant difference in DHEAS levels was found between the “persistent weight gain” (7.93 [95% CI: 6.43–9.86] µmol/L) and the “normal weight gain” trajectories ([5.75 [95% CI: 5.32–6.23] µmol/L; p =.039). Conclusion: Higher DHEAS levels are found in 7-year-old children following a trajectory of persistent weight gain from 0 to 4 years, independently of their BW or current BMI, highlighting the impact of exposure to overweight in the first years of life on prepubertal adrenal androgen production. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.