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Association of Paternal BMI and Diet During Pregnancy with Offspring Birth Measures: The STEPS Study

Michelle L. Kearns, Mirkka Lahdenperä Orcid Logo, Laura Galante Orcid Logo, Samuli Rautava, Hanna Lagström Orcid Logo, Clare M. Reynolds Orcid Logo

Nutrients, Volume: 17, Issue: 5, Start page: 866

Swansea University Author: Laura Galante Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.3390/nu17050866

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Maternal Body Mass Index (BMI), diet quality, and their associated effects on offspring birth measures are well-established. Emerging evidence, largely from animal studies, has indicated paternal factors can influence offspring birth outcomes. However, this effect is poorly un...

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Published in: Nutrients
ISSN: 2072-6643
Published: MDPI 2025
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69084
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Our aim was to examine the association between paternal BMI and diet quality score and offspring birth measures. Methods: Participants from the STEPS (Steps to the healthy development) Study in Southwest Finland were recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy or after delivery. A total of 1586 fathers and their children were included for BMI analysis, and 208 fathers and their children were included for dietary analyses. Paternal BMI was calculated using self-reported weight and height at recruitment, and dietary behaviour was assessed using the Index of Diet Quality (IDQ) at 30 weeks&#x2019; gestation. Offspring birth weight and length z-scores were calculated using the recently published references specific to the Finnish population. Generalized linear model analyses were carried out to determine associations between paternal factors and offspring z-scores. Results: The mean paternal BMI was 26 (SD &#xB1; 3.5). Over half of the fathers were classed as having an unhealthy diet, classified as poor in adhering to nutrition recommendations including higher intakes of saturated fatty acids, and inadequate intakes of protein, saccharose, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Paternal BMI was not significantly associated with offspring birth weight (&#x3B2; = 0.00 p = 0.884) or birth length (&#x3B2; = 0.00, p = 0.774) z-scores when adjusted for maternal and other paternal and parental factors. Paternal diet quality score was not associated with offspring birth weight (&#x3B2; = &#x2212;0.01, p = 0.515) or birth length (&#x3B2; = 0.07 p = 0.291) z-scores. Conclusions: This study shows paternal BMI or diet quality at 30 weeks&#x2019; gestation does not significantly impact offspring birth measures. Given the known impact of nutrition on epigenetics, examining the potential influence of paternal factors at conception on offspring growth is of major importance and should be included in future studies.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Nutrients</journal><volume>17</volume><journalNumber>5</journalNumber><paginationStart>866</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>MDPI</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic>2072-6643</issnElectronic><keywords>diet quality, birthweight, paternal influences</keywords><publishedDay>28</publishedDay><publishedMonth>2</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-02-28</publishedDate><doi>10.3390/nu17050866</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Medical School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>MEDS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Another institution paid the OA fee</apcterm><funders>This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (grants 321409), the Juho Vainio Foundation, and Special Governmental grants for Health Sciences Research (Turku University Hospital), the Human Diversity consortium, Profi7 program by Research Council of Finland, grant 352727 and the Ad Astra Fellowship Programme, UCD. Funding is also acknowledged from the UCD Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund, which was financed jointly by University College Dublin and the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Biomedical Research Partnership (ref 204844/Z/16/Z) and the Strategic Research Council (SRC) within the Research Council of Finland (grant numbers 364385 and 364371).</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-03-12T13:09:08.2981892</lastEdited><Created>2025-03-12T12:58:50.1954361</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">School of Health and Social Care - Public Health</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Michelle L.</firstname><surname>Kearns</surname><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Mirkka</firstname><surname>Lahdenper&#xE4;</surname><orcid>0000-0003-0062-6284</orcid><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Laura</firstname><surname>Galante</surname><orcid>0000-0002-6190-7955</orcid><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Samuli</firstname><surname>Rautava</surname><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Hanna</firstname><surname>Lagstr&#xF6;m</surname><orcid>0000-0002-5069-6582</orcid><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Clare M.</firstname><surname>Reynolds</surname><orcid>0000-0001-5782-6303</orcid><order>6</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>69084__33796__9746c6565d46446faa595d079888d5bc.pdf</filename><originalFilename>nutrients-17-00866.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-03-12T12:58:50.1596821</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>260889</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>&#xA9; 2025 by the authors. 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spelling 2025-03-12T13:09:08.2981892 v2 69084 2025-03-12 Association of Paternal BMI and Diet During Pregnancy with Offspring Birth Measures: The STEPS Study d1c6c22f6a863ef2050ed9768566884b 0000-0002-6190-7955 Laura Galante Laura Galante true false 2025-03-12 MEDS Background/Objectives: Maternal Body Mass Index (BMI), diet quality, and their associated effects on offspring birth measures are well-established. Emerging evidence, largely from animal studies, has indicated paternal factors can influence offspring birth outcomes. However, this effect is poorly understood in humans. Our aim was to examine the association between paternal BMI and diet quality score and offspring birth measures. Methods: Participants from the STEPS (Steps to the healthy development) Study in Southwest Finland were recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy or after delivery. A total of 1586 fathers and their children were included for BMI analysis, and 208 fathers and their children were included for dietary analyses. Paternal BMI was calculated using self-reported weight and height at recruitment, and dietary behaviour was assessed using the Index of Diet Quality (IDQ) at 30 weeks’ gestation. Offspring birth weight and length z-scores were calculated using the recently published references specific to the Finnish population. Generalized linear model analyses were carried out to determine associations between paternal factors and offspring z-scores. Results: The mean paternal BMI was 26 (SD ± 3.5). Over half of the fathers were classed as having an unhealthy diet, classified as poor in adhering to nutrition recommendations including higher intakes of saturated fatty acids, and inadequate intakes of protein, saccharose, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Paternal BMI was not significantly associated with offspring birth weight (β = 0.00 p = 0.884) or birth length (β = 0.00, p = 0.774) z-scores when adjusted for maternal and other paternal and parental factors. Paternal diet quality score was not associated with offspring birth weight (β = −0.01, p = 0.515) or birth length (β = 0.07 p = 0.291) z-scores. Conclusions: This study shows paternal BMI or diet quality at 30 weeks’ gestation does not significantly impact offspring birth measures. Given the known impact of nutrition on epigenetics, examining the potential influence of paternal factors at conception on offspring growth is of major importance and should be included in future studies. Journal Article Nutrients 17 5 866 MDPI 2072-6643 diet quality, birthweight, paternal influences 28 2 2025 2025-02-28 10.3390/nu17050866 COLLEGE NANME Medical School COLLEGE CODE MEDS Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (grants 321409), the Juho Vainio Foundation, and Special Governmental grants for Health Sciences Research (Turku University Hospital), the Human Diversity consortium, Profi7 program by Research Council of Finland, grant 352727 and the Ad Astra Fellowship Programme, UCD. Funding is also acknowledged from the UCD Wellcome Institutional Strategic Support Fund, which was financed jointly by University College Dublin and the SFI-HRB-Wellcome Biomedical Research Partnership (ref 204844/Z/16/Z) and the Strategic Research Council (SRC) within the Research Council of Finland (grant numbers 364385 and 364371). 2025-03-12T13:09:08.2981892 2025-03-12T12:58:50.1954361 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health and Social Care - Public Health Michelle L. Kearns 1 Mirkka Lahdenperä 0000-0003-0062-6284 2 Laura Galante 0000-0002-6190-7955 3 Samuli Rautava 4 Hanna Lagström 0000-0002-5069-6582 5 Clare M. Reynolds 0000-0001-5782-6303 6 69084__33796__9746c6565d46446faa595d079888d5bc.pdf nutrients-17-00866.pdf 2025-03-12T12:58:50.1596821 Output 260889 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 by the authors. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Association of Paternal BMI and Diet During Pregnancy with Offspring Birth Measures: The STEPS Study
spellingShingle Association of Paternal BMI and Diet During Pregnancy with Offspring Birth Measures: The STEPS Study
Laura Galante
title_short Association of Paternal BMI and Diet During Pregnancy with Offspring Birth Measures: The STEPS Study
title_full Association of Paternal BMI and Diet During Pregnancy with Offspring Birth Measures: The STEPS Study
title_fullStr Association of Paternal BMI and Diet During Pregnancy with Offspring Birth Measures: The STEPS Study
title_full_unstemmed Association of Paternal BMI and Diet During Pregnancy with Offspring Birth Measures: The STEPS Study
title_sort Association of Paternal BMI and Diet During Pregnancy with Offspring Birth Measures: The STEPS Study
author_id_str_mv d1c6c22f6a863ef2050ed9768566884b
author_id_fullname_str_mv d1c6c22f6a863ef2050ed9768566884b_***_Laura Galante
author Laura Galante
author2 Michelle L. Kearns
Mirkka Lahdenperä
Laura Galante
Samuli Rautava
Hanna Lagström
Clare M. Reynolds
format Journal article
container_title Nutrients
container_volume 17
container_issue 5
container_start_page 866
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 2072-6643
doi_str_mv 10.3390/nu17050866
publisher MDPI
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Health and Social Care - Public Health{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Health and Social Care - Public Health
document_store_str 1
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description Background/Objectives: Maternal Body Mass Index (BMI), diet quality, and their associated effects on offspring birth measures are well-established. Emerging evidence, largely from animal studies, has indicated paternal factors can influence offspring birth outcomes. However, this effect is poorly understood in humans. Our aim was to examine the association between paternal BMI and diet quality score and offspring birth measures. Methods: Participants from the STEPS (Steps to the healthy development) Study in Southwest Finland were recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy or after delivery. A total of 1586 fathers and their children were included for BMI analysis, and 208 fathers and their children were included for dietary analyses. Paternal BMI was calculated using self-reported weight and height at recruitment, and dietary behaviour was assessed using the Index of Diet Quality (IDQ) at 30 weeks’ gestation. Offspring birth weight and length z-scores were calculated using the recently published references specific to the Finnish population. Generalized linear model analyses were carried out to determine associations between paternal factors and offspring z-scores. Results: The mean paternal BMI was 26 (SD ± 3.5). Over half of the fathers were classed as having an unhealthy diet, classified as poor in adhering to nutrition recommendations including higher intakes of saturated fatty acids, and inadequate intakes of protein, saccharose, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Paternal BMI was not significantly associated with offspring birth weight (β = 0.00 p = 0.884) or birth length (β = 0.00, p = 0.774) z-scores when adjusted for maternal and other paternal and parental factors. Paternal diet quality score was not associated with offspring birth weight (β = −0.01, p = 0.515) or birth length (β = 0.07 p = 0.291) z-scores. Conclusions: This study shows paternal BMI or diet quality at 30 weeks’ gestation does not significantly impact offspring birth measures. Given the known impact of nutrition on epigenetics, examining the potential influence of paternal factors at conception on offspring growth is of major importance and should be included in future studies.
published_date 2025-02-28T08:22:31Z
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