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Influences of Genetic and Early Environmental Factors on Physique and Menarche in Young Japanese Women

Received: 25 May 2022     Accepted: 21 June 2022     Published: 27 June 2022
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Abstract

Background: There is not enough of necessary data on the relationship between the physical condition at birth and in infancy and the current status for Japanese women. Aim: To study the relationship between young Japanese women's physical condition at birth and in infancy with their current status and investigate genetic and environmental factors' influence on their physique and menarche. Subjects and Methods: Anthropometric measurements were obtained for 204 Japanese women aged 19.4 ± 0.5 y and their condition at birth and in infancy was investigated, using the subjects' "mother-and-child healthcare record book" (boshi-kenko-techo). Results: The subjects' birth height and weight were correlated with their height and weight at 1 month, but not thereafter. Their current (19 y) height was correlated with their height at 3 months and thereafter, and their current weight was correlated with their weight at 3 y. The subjects in the higher 3 y height and weight quartiles had higher current values of height, weight, waist, hip, bone mineral content, and visceral fat area. Weight at 19 y was correlated with the 1.5–3 y weight increase. In a multiple regression analysis, 19 y height was predicted by 1.5 y height, mother's height, father's height, and 3 y height. The subjects with earlier menarche (9–12 y) were significantly taller at 1.5 and 3 y, but not at 19 y; at 19 y, those subjects had also higher values of body mass index (BMI), waist, %fat mass, fat/lean ratio, and visceral fat area, but lower %muscle mass and %skeletal muscle mass. Height at 19 y was correlated with parents' height, but weight and BMI were not correlated with parents' weight and BMI, respectively. The daughters' menarche age was correlated with their mother's menarche age. Nutrition method differences in infancy (breast, formula, or mixed feeding) did not influence the subjects' current physical condition. Conclusion: Japanese women's height at 19 y was influenced by their parents' height, suggesting heritability. The women's 19 y weight and BMI were not correlated with those of their parents, indicating stronger environmental factors (probably lifestyle including diet and exercise) rather than genetic factors. Daughters' adult height but not their weight and BMI may be predicted by the infancy data in mother-and-child healthcare records. Daughters' menarche age was predicted by the mothers' menarche age, suggesting heritable factors.

Published in World Journal of Public Health (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17
Page(s) 79-86
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Physique, Menarche, Young Women, Birth, Infant, Heritability, Environmental Factors

References
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    Maiko Kato, Minori Furusawa, Mieko Kagaya, Michitaka Naito. (2022). Influences of Genetic and Early Environmental Factors on Physique and Menarche in Young Japanese Women. World Journal of Public Health, 7(2), 79-86. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17

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    ACS Style

    Maiko Kato; Minori Furusawa; Mieko Kagaya; Michitaka Naito. Influences of Genetic and Early Environmental Factors on Physique and Menarche in Young Japanese Women. World J. Public Health 2022, 7(2), 79-86. doi: 10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17

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    AMA Style

    Maiko Kato, Minori Furusawa, Mieko Kagaya, Michitaka Naito. Influences of Genetic and Early Environmental Factors on Physique and Menarche in Young Japanese Women. World J Public Health. 2022;7(2):79-86. doi: 10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17,
      author = {Maiko Kato and Minori Furusawa and Mieko Kagaya and Michitaka Naito},
      title = {Influences of Genetic and Early Environmental Factors on Physique and Menarche in Young Japanese Women},
      journal = {World Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {79-86},
      doi = {10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjph.20220702.17},
      abstract = {Background: There is not enough of necessary data on the relationship between the physical condition at birth and in infancy and the current status for Japanese women. Aim: To study the relationship between young Japanese women's physical condition at birth and in infancy with their current status and investigate genetic and environmental factors' influence on their physique and menarche. Subjects and Methods: Anthropometric measurements were obtained for 204 Japanese women aged 19.4 ± 0.5 y and their condition at birth and in infancy was investigated, using the subjects' "mother-and-child healthcare record book" (boshi-kenko-techo). Results: The subjects' birth height and weight were correlated with their height and weight at 1 month, but not thereafter. Their current (19 y) height was correlated with their height at 3 months and thereafter, and their current weight was correlated with their weight at 3 y. The subjects in the higher 3 y height and weight quartiles had higher current values of height, weight, waist, hip, bone mineral content, and visceral fat area. Weight at 19 y was correlated with the 1.5–3 y weight increase. In a multiple regression analysis, 19 y height was predicted by 1.5 y height, mother's height, father's height, and 3 y height. The subjects with earlier menarche (9–12 y) were significantly taller at 1.5 and 3 y, but not at 19 y; at 19 y, those subjects had also higher values of body mass index (BMI), waist, %fat mass, fat/lean ratio, and visceral fat area, but lower %muscle mass and %skeletal muscle mass. Height at 19 y was correlated with parents' height, but weight and BMI were not correlated with parents' weight and BMI, respectively. The daughters' menarche age was correlated with their mother's menarche age. Nutrition method differences in infancy (breast, formula, or mixed feeding) did not influence the subjects' current physical condition. Conclusion: Japanese women's height at 19 y was influenced by their parents' height, suggesting heritability. The women's 19 y weight and BMI were not correlated with those of their parents, indicating stronger environmental factors (probably lifestyle including diet and exercise) rather than genetic factors. Daughters' adult height but not their weight and BMI may be predicted by the infancy data in mother-and-child healthcare records. Daughters' menarche age was predicted by the mothers' menarche age, suggesting heritable factors.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Influences of Genetic and Early Environmental Factors on Physique and Menarche in Young Japanese Women
    AU  - Maiko Kato
    AU  - Minori Furusawa
    AU  - Mieko Kagaya
    AU  - Michitaka Naito
    Y1  - 2022/06/27
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17
    DO  - 10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17
    T2  - World Journal of Public Health
    JF  - World Journal of Public Health
    JO  - World Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 79
    EP  - 86
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2637-6059
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjph.20220702.17
    AB  - Background: There is not enough of necessary data on the relationship between the physical condition at birth and in infancy and the current status for Japanese women. Aim: To study the relationship between young Japanese women's physical condition at birth and in infancy with their current status and investigate genetic and environmental factors' influence on their physique and menarche. Subjects and Methods: Anthropometric measurements were obtained for 204 Japanese women aged 19.4 ± 0.5 y and their condition at birth and in infancy was investigated, using the subjects' "mother-and-child healthcare record book" (boshi-kenko-techo). Results: The subjects' birth height and weight were correlated with their height and weight at 1 month, but not thereafter. Their current (19 y) height was correlated with their height at 3 months and thereafter, and their current weight was correlated with their weight at 3 y. The subjects in the higher 3 y height and weight quartiles had higher current values of height, weight, waist, hip, bone mineral content, and visceral fat area. Weight at 19 y was correlated with the 1.5–3 y weight increase. In a multiple regression analysis, 19 y height was predicted by 1.5 y height, mother's height, father's height, and 3 y height. The subjects with earlier menarche (9–12 y) were significantly taller at 1.5 and 3 y, but not at 19 y; at 19 y, those subjects had also higher values of body mass index (BMI), waist, %fat mass, fat/lean ratio, and visceral fat area, but lower %muscle mass and %skeletal muscle mass. Height at 19 y was correlated with parents' height, but weight and BMI were not correlated with parents' weight and BMI, respectively. The daughters' menarche age was correlated with their mother's menarche age. Nutrition method differences in infancy (breast, formula, or mixed feeding) did not influence the subjects' current physical condition. Conclusion: Japanese women's height at 19 y was influenced by their parents' height, suggesting heritability. The women's 19 y weight and BMI were not correlated with those of their parents, indicating stronger environmental factors (probably lifestyle including diet and exercise) rather than genetic factors. Daughters' adult height but not their weight and BMI may be predicted by the infancy data in mother-and-child healthcare records. Daughters' menarche age was predicted by the mothers' menarche age, suggesting heritable factors.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Division of Nutrition & Health, School & Graduate School of Life Studies, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, Nagoya, Japan

  • Division of Nutrition & Health, School & Graduate School of Life Studies, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, Nagoya, Japan

  • Division of Nutrition & Health, School & Graduate School of Life Studies, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, Nagoya, Japan

  • Division of Nutrition & Health, School & Graduate School of Life Studies, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, Nagoya, Japan

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