Table 4.
Reference (year). country, study type | Subjects (n, age range) | Data collection method | Maternal nutrition exposure | Outcome in offspring |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aschim EL, et al [30] (2005). Norway, Case Control Study |
1790, 21-45 y |
Male offspring from women giving birth at the National Hospital in Oslo, Norway each month from 1931-1955. Linked to national testicular cancer cases register. |
Maternal exposure to famine (impact on BMI) |
Testicular Cancer (TC): Reduction in maternal weight of between 2-3 kg from 1941-1945 compared to 1951-1955 (BMI 26.3 vs 27.9) correlated with a reduction in TC incidence (465 vs 535, Spearman’s rho = 1.00, P < 0.01; Pearson r = 0.95, P = 0.02). |
Ekamper P, et al [22] (2015). Netherlands, Retrospective Cohort |
41 096 men (22 952 exposed), 63 y |
Male conscripts born between 1944 and 1947 in famine affected areas by the DFBC. Linked to military records of health and mortality. |
Exposure to famine during pregnancy (<900 kcal/d) |
Cancer Related Mortality and Malignant Neoplasms: 5011 subjects had died at the time of analysis. Cancer accounted for 38.7% of recorded deaths. There was no significant increase in cancer related mortality following gestational exposure to famine (HR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.87-1.11). Reduced risk of malignant neoplasms in offspring following maternal exposure prior to pregnancy was found (HR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.74- 0.99). Highest number of neoplasms recorded for digestive organs (30%) and respiratory organs (29%). Famine exposure in the first trimester of gestation increases mortality from other natural causes (HR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.03-1.49) – includes diabetes and cerebrovascular disease. |
Van Abeelen AF, et al [21] (2012). Netherlands, Retrospective Cohort |
1991, 18-64 y |
Offspring from the DFBC. Linked to Statistics Netherlands mortality data. |
Exposure to famine during pregnancy |
Cancer Related Mortality: 206 (10%) had died at the time of analysis. Women exposed to famine in early gestation had a significantly higher risk of cancer mortality (HR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.1-4.7, P = 0.03), and breast cancer mortality (HR = 8.3, 95% CI = 1.1-63.0, P = 0.04). Men exposed to famine in early gestation showed a non-significant reduction in cancer mortality (H = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.0-1.9, P = 0.19). Exposure to famine in mid and late gestation was not associated with significantly increased cancer related morality in men or women. |
Painter RC, et al [19] (2006). Netherlands, Case Control Study |
475 women, 61-62 y |
Offspring from the DFBC (Linked to Statistics Netherlands mortality data.). |
Exposure to famine during pregnancy |
Breast Cancer: Overall, when adjusted for maternal body mass index, the hazard ratio of breast cancer in offspring of women exposed to famine during pregnancy was significant higher (HR = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.1-14.5), particularly for those exposed in early gestation (HR = 7.1, 95% CI = 1.6-32.0). |
Sanderson M, et al [31] (1998). USA, Case Control Study |
946 (510 cases), 45 y |
Data collected from the mothers of women in two population-based case–control studies of breast cancer in women under the age of 45 y |
Gestational weight gain |
Breast Cancer: Gestational weight gain of 11-15 kg was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1- 2.0); however, women whose mothers gained 15.5 kg or more were not at an increased risk. No association between maternal coffee consumption or anaemia status was found. |
Eriksson JG, et al [18] (2014). Finland, retrospective cohort | N = 13 345, 70-80 y | Offspring of the HBC– maternal BMI measured prior to delivery and linked to offspring’s national health records | Maternal overweight in pregnancy | Cancer Incidence and cancer related death: Offspring’s risk of cancer incidence was not significantly associated with maternal BMI (HR for trend per kg/m2 = 1.017, 95% CI = 0.998-1.036, P = 0.08). There was also no significant association found for maternal BMI and offspring risk of cancer related death (HR for trend = 1.013, 95% CI = 0.983-1.044, P = 0.4). |
HR – hazard ratio, CI – confidence interval, BMI – body mass index, y – year