Regular smoking of male ancestors in adolescence and fat mass in young adult grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Open Access
- 23 March 2023
- journal article
- Published by F1000 Research Ltd in Wellcome Open Research
Abstract
Background: Previous studies using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) have shown that if men commenced smoking prior to the onset of puberty their sons, their granddaughters and great-granddaughters were more likely to have excess fat (but not lean) mass during childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. In this study we assess associations between ancestral smoking during adolescence (ages 11–16 years) with fat and lean mass of subsequent generations at two ages. Methods: We analysed data on exposures of grandparents and great-grandparents collected by ALSPAC. The outcomes were the fat masses of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren measured at ages 17 and 24. Measures of lean mass were used as controls. Adjustment was made for 8–10 demographic factors using multiple regression. Results: We found associations between adolescent smoking of the paternal grandfathers and the adjusted fat mass of their grandchildren, but no associations with the grandchildren’s lean mass. Grandchildren at age 17 had an average excess fat mass of +1.65 [95% CI +0.04, +3.26] Kg, and at age 24 an average excess of +1.55 [95% CI -0.27, +3.38] Kg. Adolescent smoking by the maternal grandfather showed similar, but weaker, associations: at 17 an average excess fat mass of +1.02 Kg [95% CI -0.20, +2.25] Kg, and at 24 an average excess of +1.28 [95% CI -0.11, +2.66] Kg. There were no pronounced differences between the sexes of the children. For the great-grandparents there were few convincing results, although numbers were small. Conclusions: We have shown associations between grandfathers’ smoking in adolescence and increased fat (but not lean) mass in their children. Confirmation of these associations is required, either in a further data set or by demonstrating the presence of supportive biomarkers.Funding Information
- John Templeton Foundation (60828, 61917)
- Medical Research Council (217065)
- Wellcome Trust (217065, 062199)
This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Sperm epigenetics and influence of environmental factorsMolecular Metabolism, 2018
- Transgenerational effects of childhood conditions on third generation health and education outcomesEconomics & Human Biology, 2016
- Prepubertal start of father’s smoking and increased body fat in his sons: further characterisation of paternal transgenerational responsesEuropean Journal of Human Genetics, 2014
- Transgenerational Transmission of Hyperactivity in a Mouse Model of ADHDJournal of Neuroscience, 2014
- Perinatal nicotine-induced transgenerational asthmaAmerican Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 2013
- Cohort Profile: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children: ALSPAC mothers cohortInternational Journal of Epidemiology, 2012
- Cohort Profile: The ‘Children of the 90s’—the index offspring of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and ChildrenInternational Journal of Epidemiology, 2012
- Research electronic data capture (REDCap)—A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics supportJournal of Biomedical Informatics, 2008
- Sex-specific, male-line transgenerational responses in humansEuropean Journal of Human Genetics, 2005
- The contribution of fat and fat-free tissue to body mass index in contemporary children and the reference childInternational Journal of Obesity, 2002