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3d ago

Maternal Childhood Trauma Found to Accelerate Early Weight Gain in Male Infants

New research reveals sex-specific metabolic changes linked to maternal adversity, with implications for obesity and diabetes prevention.

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Another important issue is that the placenta of male fetuses tends to be more susceptible to fluctuations in substances and metabolites present in the maternal bloodstream compared to female placentas. Credit: Neuroscience News
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Overview

  • A study of 352 mother-infant pairs in Brazil shows male infants born to mothers with childhood trauma gain weight faster than WHO-recommended rates during their first two months.
  • Male infants averaged 35 grams of daily weight gain, exceeding the WHO limit of 30 grams, with some gaining as much as 78 grams per day.
  • The observed effects were exclusive to male infants, attributed to sex-specific placental differences that increase male vulnerability to maternal stress factors.
  • The study controlled for maternal lifetime and current trauma, socioeconomic status, education, and feeding methods, with 70% of infants exclusively breastfed.
  • Researchers will monitor the cohort until 24 months to assess the impact of complementary feeding and explore intervention opportunities to mitigate long-term metabolic risks.