IJE Advance Access originally published online on August 6, 2008
International Journal of Epidemiology 2009 38(1):101-109; doi:10.1093/ije/dyn158
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A fingerprint marker from early gestation associated with diabetes in middle age: The Dutch Hunger Winter Families Study
1 Division of Diabetes Translation, Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
2 North Carolina Agromedicine Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. (Research at Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.)
3 Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
4 Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
* Corresponding author. Division of Diabetes Translation, NCCDPHP, CDC, Mail Stop K-10, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. E-mail: hkahn{at}cdc.gov
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Abstract |
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Background Fetal programming of diabetes might originate in early pregnancy when fingerprints are permanently established. The mean dermatoglyphic ridge count difference between fingertips 1 and 5 (‘Md15’) varies with the early prenatal environment. We hypothesized that Md15 would be associated with adult-onset diabetes.
Methods We obtained Md15 from 577 Dutch adults (aged 58.9 years, SD 1.1) whose births in 1943–47 were documented in maternity records and from 260 of their same-sex siblings for whom birth weights were not available. Of these 837 participants, complete anthropometry and diabetes status (from history or glucose tolerance test) were obtained for 819.
Results After adjustment for age, sex, parental diabetes and adult anthropometry, fingerprint Md15 was associated with prevalent diabetes [odds ratio (OR) = 1.37 per 1 SD (95% confidence interval 1.02–1.84)]. This relationship held [OR = 1.40 (1.03–1.92)] for diabetic cases restricted to those recently diagnosed (within 7 years). In the birth series restricted to recently diagnosed cases, the mutually adjusted ORs were 1.34 (1.00–1.79) per SD of Md15 and 0.83 (0.62–1.10) per SD of birth weight. Further adjustments for maternal smoking, conception season or prenatal famine exposure in 1944–45 did not alter these estimates. Among 42 sibling pairs discordant for diabetes, the diabetic sibling had higher Md15 by 3.5 (0.6–6.3) after multivariable adjustment.
Conclusions Diabetes diagnosed at age 50+ years was associated with a fingerprint marker established in early gestation, irrespective of birth weight. Fingerprints may provide a useful tool to investigate prenatal developmental plasticity.
Keywords Birth weight, body weights and measures, dermatoglyphics, diabetes mellitus, Dutch famine, embryonic and fetal development, Netherlands, organogenesis
Accepted 8 July 2008