Relationship between adrenal steroid hormones in cord blood and birth weight: The Sapporo Cohort, Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health

ObjectivesWe investigated the relationship between steroid hormone levels in cord blood and birth weight. MethodsAmong 514 participants in a prospective birth cohort study in Sapporo, the following hormone levels were measured in 294 stored cord blood samples from 135 males and 159 females: androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, and cortisone. Birth weight information was obtained from medical records. ResultsAndrostenedione/DHEA was significantly higher in males than in females, while DHEA was significantly higher in females. Birth weight was significantly higher in males than in females. Regarding cortisone, androstenedione/DHEA, and cortisone/cortisol, a correlation was observed with birth weight in males but not in females. ConclusionsPrenatal adrenal steroids as well as converting enzymes such as 11 ss-hydrosteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and 3 ss-hydrosteroid dehydrogenase may have an impact on prenatal physical development.