Birth size and gestational age in opposite-sex twins as compared to same-sex twins: An individual-based pooled analysis of 21 cohorts

Aline Jelenkovic; Reijo Sund; Yoshie Yokoyama; Yoon Mi Hur; Vilhelmina Ullemar; Catarina Almqvist; Patrik Ke Magnusson; Gonneke Willemsen; Meike Bartels; Catharina Em Van Beijsterveldt; Leonie H. Bogl; Kirsi H. Pietiläinen; Eero Vuoksimaa; Fuling Ji; Feng Ning; Zengchang Pang; Tracy L. Nelson; Keith E. Whitfield; Esther Rebato; Clare H. Llewellyn; Abigail Fisher; Gombojav Bayasgalan; Danshiitsoodol Narandalai; Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen; Henning Beck-Nielsen; Morten Sodemann; Adam D. Tarnoki; David L. Tarnoki; Syuichi Ooki; Maria A. Stazi; Corrado Fagnani; Sonia Brescianini; Lise Dubois; Michel Boivin; Mara Brendgen; Ginette Dionne; Frank Vitaro; Tessa L. Cutler; John L. Hopper; Robert F. Krueger; Matt McGue; Shandell Pahlen; Jeffrey M. Craig; Richard Saffery; Claire Ma Haworth; Robert Plomin; Ariel Knafo-Noam; David Mankuta; Lior Abramson; S. Alexandra Burt; Kelly L. Klump; Robert F. Vlietinck; Catherine A. Derom; Ruth Jf Loos; Dorret I. Boomsma; Thorkild I.A. Sørensen; Jaakko Kaprio; Karri Silventoinen

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-24634-2

Birth size and gestational age in opposite-sex twins as compared to same-sex twins: An individual-based pooled analysis of 21 cohorts

Aline Jelenkovic^*, Reijo Sund, Yoshie Yokoyama, Yoon Mi Hur, Vilhelmina Ullemar, Catarina Almqvist, Patrik Ke Magnusson, Gonneke Willemsen, Meike Bartels, Catharina Em Van Beijsterveldt, Leonie H. Bogl, Kirsi H. Pietiläinen, Eero Vuoksimaa, Fuling Ji, Feng Ning, Zengchang Pang, Tracy L. Nelson, Keith E. Whitfield, Esther Rebato, Clare H. LlewellynAbigail Fisher, Gombojav Bayasgalan, Danshiitsoodol Narandalai, Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen, Henning Beck-Nielsen, Morten Sodemann, Adam D. Tarnoki, David L. Tarnoki, Syuichi Ooki, Maria A. Stazi, Corrado Fagnani, Sonia Brescianini, Lise Dubois, Michel Boivin, Mara Brendgen, Ginette Dionne, Frank Vitaro, Tessa L. Cutler, John L. Hopper, Robert F. Krueger, Matt McGue, Shandell Pahlen, Jeffrey M. Craig, Richard Saffery, Claire Ma Haworth, Robert Plomin, Ariel Knafo-Noam, David Mankuta, Lior Abramson, S. Alexandra Burt, Kelly L. Klump, Robert F. Vlietinck, Catherine A. Derom, Ruth Jf Loos, Dorret I. Boomsma, Thorkild I.A. Sørensen, Jaakko Kaprio, Karri Silventoinen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is well established that boys are born heavier and longer than girls, but it remains unclear whether birth size in twins is affected by the sex of their co-twin. We conducted an individual-based pooled analysis of 21 twin cohorts in 15 countries derived from the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins), including 67,850 dizygotic twin individuals. Linear regression analyses showed that boys having a co-twin sister were, on average, 31 g (95% CI 18 to 45) heavier and 0.16 cm (95% CI 0.045 to 0.274) longer than those with a co-twin brother. In girls, birth size was not associated (5 g birth weight; 95% CI -8 to -18 and -0.089 cm birth length; 95% CI -0.202 to 0.025) with the sex of the co-twin. Gestational age was slightly shorter in boy-boy pairs than in boy-girl and girl-girl pairs. When birth size was standardized by gestational age, the magnitude of the associations was attenuated in boys, particularly for birth weight. In conclusion, boys with a co-twin sister are heavier and longer at birth than those with a co-twin brother. However, these differences are modest and partly explained by a longer gestation in the presence of a co-twin sister.

Original language	English
Article number	6300
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24634-2
State	Published - 1 Dec 2018
Externally published	Yes

Funding

Funders	Funder number
Medical Research Council Canada
VU University’s Institute for Health and Care Research
Stockholms Läns Landsting
Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé
FP7-HEALTH-F4-2007
Swedish Initiative for Research on Microdata in the Social And Medical Sciences
University of Melbourne.The Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging
Fund of Scientific Research, Flanders and Twins
Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association’s Research Foundation
State Government of Victoria
European Commission
Avera Institute
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
National Health Research Development Program
Canada Research Chairs
CAATSA
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Michigan State University Foundation
Hjärt-Lungfonden
Sainte-Justine Hospital’s Research Center
Vetenskapsrådet
Medexpert Ltd.
Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Société et la Culture
Seventh Framework Programme	230374, 265240, 213506, 201413
Centre of Research Excellence	ID 1079102
Medical Research Council	15H05105, G0500079, MR/M021475/1, G19/2
National Health and Medical Research Council	437015, 1079102, 607358
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council	31/D19086
Michigan State University	R01-MH0820-54, R21-MH070542-01, R01-MH092377-02, R01-MH081813, R03-MH63851-01
SIMSAM	340-2013-5867
National Institute of Mental Health	R01MH081813, R01-MH0820-54, R21MH070542, R01MH092377, R03-MH63851-01
European Research Council	240994
Financial Markets Foundation for Children	032-2007
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science	15H05105
UK Research and Innovation	G0901245
Suomen Akatemia	141054, 264146, 205585, 263278, 118555, 100499
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development	R01HD066040
Cancer Research UK	C1418/A7974
National Institute on Aging	1RO1-AG13662-01A2
Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Complex Disease Genetics	129680
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism	AA-00145, AA-09203, AA-12502
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development	11-SPG-2518
Bonnie Babes Foundation	BBF20704
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	463-06-001, 904-61-090, 904-61-193,480-04-004, 400-05-717, 451-04-034, 985-10-002, 56-464-14192, 912-10-020

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10.1038/s41598-018-24634-2

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Jelenkovic, A., Sund, R., Yokoyama, Y., Hur, Y. M., Ullemar, V., Almqvist, C., Magnusson, P. K., Willemsen, G., Bartels, M., Beijsterveldt, C. E. V., Bogl, L. H., Pietiläinen, K. H., Vuoksimaa, E., Ji, F., Ning, F., Pang, Z., Nelson, T. L., Whitfield, K. E., Rebato, E., ... Silventoinen, K. (2018). Birth size and gestational age in opposite-sex twins as compared to same-sex twins: An individual-based pooled analysis of 21 cohorts. Scientific Reports, 8(1), Article 6300. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24634-2

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title = "Birth size and gestational age in opposite-sex twins as compared to same-sex twins: An individual-based pooled analysis of 21 cohorts",

abstract = "It is well established that boys are born heavier and longer than girls, but it remains unclear whether birth size in twins is affected by the sex of their co-twin. We conducted an individual-based pooled analysis of 21 twin cohorts in 15 countries derived from the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins), including 67,850 dizygotic twin individuals. Linear regression analyses showed that boys having a co-twin sister were, on average, 31 g (95% CI 18 to 45) heavier and 0.16 cm (95% CI 0.045 to 0.274) longer than those with a co-twin brother. In girls, birth size was not associated (5 g birth weight; 95% CI -8 to -18 and -0.089 cm birth length; 95% CI -0.202 to 0.025) with the sex of the co-twin. Gestational age was slightly shorter in boy-boy pairs than in boy-girl and girl-girl pairs. When birth size was standardized by gestational age, the magnitude of the associations was attenuated in boys, particularly for birth weight. In conclusion, boys with a co-twin sister are heavier and longer at birth than those with a co-twin brother. However, these differences are modest and partly explained by a longer gestation in the presence of a co-twin sister.",

author = "Aline Jelenkovic and Reijo Sund and Yoshie Yokoyama and Hur, {Yoon Mi} and Vilhelmina Ullemar and Catarina Almqvist and Magnusson, {Patrik Ke} and Gonneke Willemsen and Meike Bartels and Beijsterveldt, {Catharina Em Van} and Bogl, {Leonie H.} and Pietil{\"a}inen, {Kirsi H.} and Eero Vuoksimaa and Fuling Ji and Feng Ning and Zengchang Pang and Nelson, {Tracy L.} and Whitfield, {Keith E.} and Esther Rebato and Llewellyn, {Clare H.} and Abigail Fisher and Gombojav Bayasgalan and Danshiitsoodol Narandalai and Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen and Henning Beck-Nielsen and Morten Sodemann and Tarnoki, {Adam D.} and Tarnoki, {David L.} and Syuichi Ooki and Stazi, {Maria A.} and Corrado Fagnani and Sonia Brescianini and Lise Dubois and Michel Boivin and Mara Brendgen and Ginette Dionne and Frank Vitaro and Cutler, {Tessa L.} and Hopper, {John L.} and Krueger, {Robert F.} and Matt McGue and Shandell Pahlen and Craig, {Jeffrey M.} and Richard Saffery and Haworth, {Claire Ma} and Robert Plomin and Ariel Knafo-Noam and David Mankuta and Lior Abramson and Burt, {S. Alexandra} and Klump, {Kelly L.} and Vlietinck, {Robert F.} and Derom, {Catherine A.} and Loos, {Ruth Jf} and Boomsma, {Dorret I.} and S{\o}rensen, {Thorkild I.A.} and Jaakko Kaprio and Karri Silventoinen",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 The Author(s).",

year = "2018",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1038/s41598-018-24634-2",

language = "אנגלית",

volume = "8",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

issn = "2045-2322",

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Jelenkovic, A, Sund, R, Yokoyama, Y, Hur, YM, Ullemar, V, Almqvist, C, Magnusson, PK, Willemsen, G, Bartels, M, Beijsterveldt, CEV, Bogl, LH, Pietiläinen, KH, Vuoksimaa, E, Ji, F, Ning, F, Pang, Z, Nelson, TL, Whitfield, KE, Rebato, E, Llewellyn, CH, Fisher, A, Bayasgalan, G, Narandalai, D, Bjerregaard-Andersen, M, Beck-Nielsen, H, Sodemann, M, Tarnoki, AD, Tarnoki, DL, Ooki, S, Stazi, MA, Fagnani, C, Brescianini, S, Dubois, L, Boivin, M, Brendgen, M, Dionne, G, Vitaro, F, Cutler, TL, Hopper, JL, Krueger, RF, McGue, M, Pahlen, S, Craig, JM, Saffery, R, Haworth, CM, Plomin, R, Knafo-Noam, A, Mankuta, D, Abramson, L, Burt, SA, Klump, KL, Vlietinck, RF, Derom, CA, Loos, RJ, Boomsma, DI, Sørensen, TIA, Kaprio, J & Silventoinen, K 2018, 'Birth size and gestational age in opposite-sex twins as compared to same-sex twins: An individual-based pooled analysis of 21 cohorts', Scientific Reports, vol. 8, no. 1, 6300. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-24634-2

TY - JOUR

T1 - Birth size and gestational age in opposite-sex twins as compared to same-sex twins

T2 - An individual-based pooled analysis of 21 cohorts

AU - Jelenkovic, Aline

AU - Sund, Reijo

AU - Yokoyama, Yoshie

AU - Hur, Yoon Mi

AU - Ullemar, Vilhelmina

AU - Almqvist, Catarina

AU - Magnusson, Patrik Ke

AU - Willemsen, Gonneke

AU - Bartels, Meike

AU - Beijsterveldt, Catharina Em Van

AU - Bogl, Leonie H.

AU - Pietiläinen, Kirsi H.

AU - Vuoksimaa, Eero

AU - Ji, Fuling

AU - Ning, Feng

AU - Pang, Zengchang

AU - Nelson, Tracy L.

AU - Whitfield, Keith E.

AU - Rebato, Esther

AU - Llewellyn, Clare H.

AU - Fisher, Abigail

AU - Bayasgalan, Gombojav

AU - Narandalai, Danshiitsoodol

AU - Bjerregaard-Andersen, Morten

AU - Beck-Nielsen, Henning

AU - Sodemann, Morten

AU - Tarnoki, Adam D.

AU - Tarnoki, David L.

AU - Ooki, Syuichi

AU - Stazi, Maria A.

AU - Fagnani, Corrado

AU - Brescianini, Sonia

AU - Dubois, Lise

AU - Boivin, Michel

AU - Brendgen, Mara

AU - Dionne, Ginette

AU - Vitaro, Frank

AU - Cutler, Tessa L.

AU - Hopper, John L.

AU - Krueger, Robert F.

AU - McGue, Matt

AU - Pahlen, Shandell

AU - Craig, Jeffrey M.

AU - Saffery, Richard

AU - Haworth, Claire Ma

AU - Plomin, Robert

AU - Knafo-Noam, Ariel

AU - Mankuta, David

AU - Abramson, Lior

AU - Burt, S. Alexandra

AU - Klump, Kelly L.

AU - Vlietinck, Robert F.

AU - Derom, Catherine A.

AU - Loos, Ruth Jf

AU - Boomsma, Dorret I.

AU - Sørensen, Thorkild I.A.

AU - Kaprio, Jaakko

AU - Silventoinen, Karri

PY - 2018/12/1

Y1 - 2018/12/1

N2 - It is well established that boys are born heavier and longer than girls, but it remains unclear whether birth size in twins is affected by the sex of their co-twin. We conducted an individual-based pooled analysis of 21 twin cohorts in 15 countries derived from the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins), including 67,850 dizygotic twin individuals. Linear regression analyses showed that boys having a co-twin sister were, on average, 31 g (95% CI 18 to 45) heavier and 0.16 cm (95% CI 0.045 to 0.274) longer than those with a co-twin brother. In girls, birth size was not associated (5 g birth weight; 95% CI -8 to -18 and -0.089 cm birth length; 95% CI -0.202 to 0.025) with the sex of the co-twin. Gestational age was slightly shorter in boy-boy pairs than in boy-girl and girl-girl pairs. When birth size was standardized by gestational age, the magnitude of the associations was attenuated in boys, particularly for birth weight. In conclusion, boys with a co-twin sister are heavier and longer at birth than those with a co-twin brother. However, these differences are modest and partly explained by a longer gestation in the presence of a co-twin sister.

AB - It is well established that boys are born heavier and longer than girls, but it remains unclear whether birth size in twins is affected by the sex of their co-twin. We conducted an individual-based pooled analysis of 21 twin cohorts in 15 countries derived from the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins), including 67,850 dizygotic twin individuals. Linear regression analyses showed that boys having a co-twin sister were, on average, 31 g (95% CI 18 to 45) heavier and 0.16 cm (95% CI 0.045 to 0.274) longer than those with a co-twin brother. In girls, birth size was not associated (5 g birth weight; 95% CI -8 to -18 and -0.089 cm birth length; 95% CI -0.202 to 0.025) with the sex of the co-twin. Gestational age was slightly shorter in boy-boy pairs than in boy-girl and girl-girl pairs. When birth size was standardized by gestational age, the magnitude of the associations was attenuated in boys, particularly for birth weight. In conclusion, boys with a co-twin sister are heavier and longer at birth than those with a co-twin brother. However, these differences are modest and partly explained by a longer gestation in the presence of a co-twin sister.

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U2 - 10.1038/s41598-018-24634-2

DO - 10.1038/s41598-018-24634-2

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C2 - 29674730

AN - SCOPUS:85045948794

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 8

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

IS - 1

M1 - 6300

ER -

Birth size and gestational age in opposite-sex twins as compared to same-sex twins: An individual-based pooled analysis of 21 cohorts

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