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Recio Alcaide A, Pérez López C, Ortega MÁ, Borrell LN, Bolúmar F. Is there an association between family members' season of birth that could influence birth seasonality? Evidence from Spain and France. POPULATION STUDIES 2024; 78:151-166. [PMID: 38093442 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2023.2272983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The number of births varies by season. Research on birth seasonality has shown that women's season of birth somehow influences that of their children, but factors underlying the intergenerational transmission of birth seasonality remain unknown. With data from Spain and France, we analysed the possibility of transmission of birth season between generations, testing whether relatives tended to be born in the same season. Results indicated that there was an association-a similarity-between parents' and children's birth seasons, partially explaining the stability of seasonal patterns over time. This association also existed between parents' birth seasons. While parents' association is directly explained by an excess of marriages with spouses born in the same month, the overall association may be explained by two facts: different socio-demographic groups show differentiated birth patterns, and relatives share socio-demographic features. Birth season seems to be related to family characteristics, which should be controlled for when assessing birth-month effects on subsequent social/health outcomes.
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Marteleto LJ, Maia AG, Rodrigues CG. Climate and fertility amid a public health crisis. POPULATION STUDIES 2023; 77:437-458. [PMID: 37581317 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2023.2228288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
One line of enquiry in demographic research assesses whether climate affects fertility. We extend this literature by examining the ramifications of climate conditions on fertility over a period of public health crisis in a highly unequal, urban middle-income country. We use monthly data for Brazil's 5,564 municipalities and apply spatial fixed-effects models to account for unobserved municipal heterogeneity and spatial dependence. Findings suggest that increases in temperature and precipitation are associated with declines in births. We also show that changes in response to climate conditions became greater during the Zika epidemic, particularly in urban areas. Combined, findings highlight the value of understanding the intersections between climate and fertility across geographic boundaries and during this public health crisis. Epidemics have become more important in people's lives with the recurring emergence of novel infectious disease threats, such as Zika and Covid-19.
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Recio Alcaide A, Pérez López C, Bolúmar F. Influence of sociodemographic factors in birth seasonality in Spain. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 34:e23788. [PMID: 35938587 PMCID: PMC9788106 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The goal of the present research is to establish for the first time a hierarchy of sociodemographic factors according to their importance influencing birth seasonality. METHODS We used Vital Statistics data on all births registered in Spain in the period 2016-2019. Differences in the degree of seasonality between sociodemographic groups (defined by maternal age, maternal marital status, maternal education, birth order, maternal job qualification, maternal employment status, maternal location population size, and maternal country of birth) were first examined with descriptive techniques. Secondly, analysis through alternative Data Mining techniques determined the association between sociodemographic factors and birth seasonality and the factors importance rank. RESULTS Those factors related to maternal labor status (employment status, job qualification, and education) were found to be the most relevant influencing birth seasonality. It was found that the overall seasonal pattern in Spain was driven by lower skilled employed mothers, in contrast with not employed or high skilled employed mothers, who showed a different or weaker seasonality. Finally, we found that a change in the rhythm pattern has taken place in the last decades in Spain. CONCLUSIONS Birth seasonality is to a large extent related to maternal employment status. Employed mothers, normally more affected by the seasonality of work calendar than the unemployed, show higher conception rates structured around holidays. This may indicate that the observed change of seasonal pattern in Spain in the last decades, as in other European countries, may be specifically driven by the progressive higher participation of women in labor market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela Recio Alcaide
- Public Health Unit, Department of Surgery and Medical Sciences, School of MedicineUniversity of AlcaláAlcalá de HenaresSpain,Directorate of Research, Institute of Fiscal Studies (IEF)Ministry of FinanceMadridSpain
| | - César Pérez López
- Directorate of Research, Institute of Fiscal Studies (IEF)Ministry of FinanceMadridSpain,Department of Statistics and Data ScienceComplutense University of MadridMadridSpain
| | - Francisco Bolúmar
- Public Health Unit, Department of Surgery and Medical Sciences, School of MedicineUniversity of AlcaláAlcalá de HenaresSpain,Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health & Health PolicyCity University of New YorkNew YorkUSA
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Carlsson Humla E, Bergh C, Akouri R, Tsiartas P. Summer is not associated with higher live birth rates in fresh IVF/ICSI cycles: a population-based nationwide registry study. Hum Reprod Open 2022; 2022:hoac036. [PMID: 36101708 PMCID: PMC9464094 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is summer associated with a higher live birth rate after fresh IVF/ICSI? SUMMARY ANSWER There was no support for a higher live birth rate after fresh IVF/ICSI when treatment was performed during the summer season. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Seasonal variations in human natural conception and birth rates are well described. It has been hypothesized that serum vitamin D, levels of which are associated with sun exposure, may have a role in human natural conception rates. However, the association between seasons and IVF outcomes has not yet been clarified and conflicting reports have been published. Furthermore, it has been suggested that women with normal vitamin D levels have a better pregnancy outcome after ART compared to those with vitamin D insufficiency. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A nationwide, register-based cohort study including all first-time fresh IVF/ICSI treatments (n = 52 788) leading to oocyte retrieval in Sweden between 2009 and 2018 was carried out. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS All first-time fresh IVF/ICSI cycles leading to oocyte retrieval were identified in the National Quality Registry of Assisted Reproduction. Data collected included patient characteristics as well as information about the treatment cycle and pregnancy outcome. The patients were divided into season subgroups, (summer, autumn, winter and spring) based on the date of oocyte retrieval. The primary outcome was live birth rate, which was defined as the number of live births per oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer (ET). Other outcomes included clinical pregnancy per ET and miscarriage per clinical pregnancy. Logistic regression with multiple imputation was performed to evaluate whether there was an association between season and IVF/ICSI outcomes, with summer as reference. Adjustments were made for woman’s age, year of treatment, BMI, total FSH/hMG dose, type of treatment, fertilization type, embryonic stage at ET and number of embryos transferred. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Live birth rate per oocyte retrieval ranged between 24% and 26% among seasons. A significantly higher live birth rate was seen for spring compared with summer, 26% versus 24%, respectively (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.08, 95% CI 1.02–1.16, P = 0.02). No significant association was seen when winter and autumn were compared with summer. Live birth rate per ET ranged between 29% and 31% among seasons. A significantly higher live birth rate was seen for spring and autumn compared with summer, at 31% and 31%, respectively versus 29% (adjusted OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.16, P = 0.04 and adjusted OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01–1.16, P = 0.02), respectively. No significant association was seen when winter was compared with summer. Clinical pregnancy rate varied between 36% and 38% and miscarriage rate between 16% and 18%, with no significant seasonal associations. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Possible limitations are the retrospective design of the study and unmeasured confounders. Another limitation is that a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was not used. The use of a GEE model would have made it possible to include all started fresh IVF/ICSI cycles since it allows for correction for any dependence between cycles within women. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The results of this large registry study give no support for the hypothesis that IVF/ICSI treatments performed during summer season, with the highest degree of sunlight and vitamin D synthesis, is associated with higher pregnancy and live birth rates. In fact, our results showed significantly lower live birth rates during summer compared with spring and autumn. However, the magnitude of this difference was small and unlikely of clinical value. We suggest that season should not be taken into consideration when planning and performing fresh IVF/ICSI treatments. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Financial support was received through the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils, the ALF-agreement (ALFGBG-70 940) and grants from the Hjalmar Svensson’s Research Foundation (HJSV2021019 and HJSV2021037). None of the authors declare any conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Carlsson Humla
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine, , 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christina Bergh
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine, , 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
- University of Gothenburg Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, , 405 30, Sweden
| | - Randa Akouri
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine, , 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
- University of Gothenburg Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, , 405 30, Sweden
| | - Panagiotis Tsiartas
- University of Gothenburg Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, , 405 30, Sweden
- Nordic IVF & Gynecology Stockholm , 171 54, Solna, Sweden
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Davis GE, Davis MJ, Lowell WE. The effect of ultraviolet radiation on the incidence and severity of major mental illness using birth month, birth year, and sunspot data. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09197. [PMID: 35368522 PMCID: PMC8969152 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives The evaluation of the severity of patients afflicted with major mental illness (MMI) has been problematic because of confounding variables and genetic variability. There have been multiple studies that suggest several human diseases, especially schizophrenia, are predisposed to be born in certain months or seasons. This observation implied an epigenetic effect of sunlight, likely ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which is damaging to DNA, especially in an embryo. This paper outlines a method to evaluate the severity of schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BPD), and schizoaffective disorder (SZ-AFF) using the month/year of birth of those affected compared to the month/year of birth of the general population (GP). Relevance Our previous research found that more intense UVR (equal to or greater than 90 sunspot number (SSN)) had a negative effect on the average human lifespan. Also, human birth rates vary in frequency by month of birth reflecting variables like availability of food, sunlight, and other unknown epigenetic factors. We wanted to see if the patient month of birth varied from the average birth months of the general population and if UVR has an epigenetic effect promoting these diseases. Methods We obtained the month and year of birth of 1,233 patients admitted over a 15-year period to Maine's largest state psychiatric hospital and counted the months of birth for each diagnosis of SZ, BPD, and SZ-AFF, and compared these results to the general population's birth months of 4,265,555 persons from U. S. Census Year 2006. The number of patients in each month was normalized to August and compared with the normalized birth months of the general population (GP). Plots of the normalized months were considered rates of change (e.g., derivatives) and their respective integrals gave domains of each mental illness relative to the GP. Normalizing the GP to unity was then related to the factor 1.28, e.g., 28% more entropy, deduced from the Sun's fractal dimension imprinted on biological organisms. Results The percent of patients meeting our criterion for severity: SZ = 27%; BPD = 26%; SZ-AFF = 100%. Conclusions High UVR intensity or a rapid increase in UVR in early gestation are likely epigenetic triggers of major mental illness. BPD is more epigenetically affected than SZ or SZ-AFF disorders. We found that 52% of 1,233 patients comprised the core function of a tertiary-care psychiatric hospital. Also, mental illness exacerbated when the median SSN doubled. This work also validates the Kraeplinian dichotomy. What is new in this research This paper offers a new paradigm for evaluating the severity of MMI and supports significant epigenetic effects from UVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- George E Davis
- Riverview Psychiatric Center, 250 Arsenal Street, State House Station #11, Augusta, Maine, 04333-0011, USA
| | - Matthew J Davis
- Riverview Psychiatric Center, 250 Arsenal Street, State House Station #11, Augusta, Maine, 04333-0011, USA
| | - Walter E Lowell
- Riverview Psychiatric Center, 250 Arsenal Street, State House Station #11, Augusta, Maine, 04333-0011, USA
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Lawal OI. Does the Serum Vitamin D Status and its Possible Effect on Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels Predict Fertility in Premenopausal Women? J Hum Reprod Sci 2021; 14:244-249. [PMID: 34759613 PMCID: PMC8527085 DOI: 10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_234_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Context: Evidence suggests that serum Vitamin D level influences female reproduction. However, clinical studies have reported conflicting evidence on the effect of serum Vitamin D levels on serum Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), with little evidence in African women. Aim: The study aimed to compare the relationship between serum Vitamin D and serum AMH among infertile and fertile women. Settings and Design: This comparative cross-sectional study analyzed data from 170 premenopausal women; 81 infertile, and 89 fertile women attending a Nigerian tertiary hospital between March and June 2019. Materials and Methods: Serum AMH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) Vitamin D) concentrations were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25 for windows. Categorical variables were summarized in frequencies and proportions while continuous variables were summarized in means ± standard deviation and median (interquartile range). The association was explored using linear regression. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: The prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/ml) in infertile women and fertile women was 16% and 18%, respectively. There was no difference in serum Vitamin D levels between infertile and fertile women in this study after controlling for age and body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.186). There was no association between serum 25(OH) Vitamin D and serum AMH in infertile (B = 0.002; P = 0.474) and fertile women (B = ‒0.002; P = 0.522) after adjusting for age and BMI. Conclusion: Infertile and fertile women had similar serum Vitamin D levels and there was no relationship between serum Vitamin D and serum AMH in both infertile and fertile women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyinkansola Islamiyat Lawal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.,Reproductive Biology Unit, Pan African University, Life and Earth Science Institute (Including Health and Agriculture), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
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7
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A Concretizing Research on Making Higher-Education Sustainability Count. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13052724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In order to manage the worrying predicament of declining global birth rates, a majority of higher-education institutions have commenced to institute a series of diversified strategies in order to make higher-education sustainability count. The aim of this research is to present the results of a study with the goal of helping educational institutions achieve their sustainability. As a succession of quantitative and qualitative analyses and measurements, there are four valuable and contributive findings in this research. First, total tuition and miscellaneous revenues (TTMR), total university–industry cooperative revenues (TUCIR) and total grants from government (TGG) of higher-education governance (HEG) were able to directly and effectively increase higher-education sustainable value. This definitively indicates that current higher-education students and staff, as well as higher-education experts and professionals, indeed agree that the tuition and miscellaneous fees, university–industry cooperative, and government grant revenues have become the most critical determinants of university environment social governance (UESG). This is because the majority of higher-education institutions do need these revenue resources to advance a succession of environmental protections, social responsibilities, and governance performance for current higher-education institution sustainability development. Second, comprehensive scale of QS rankings (CS-QS) was the most important key determinant to evaluate the university social responsibility development (USRD), which means the majority of higher-education institutions have to pay more attention on the comprehensive scale of QS rankings (CS-QS) in order to make more sustainability count. The third finding is the number of student’s publications (NSP), which was the most crucial key determinant to assay return on investments (ROI), meaning current higher-education students, staff, experts, and professionals consent to higher-education institutions having to establish an evaluated system for student’s publications to stimulate students to publish their diversified studying outcomes in order to make students recognize their growth after taking courses in higher education. The last finding is total tuition and miscellaneous revenues (TTMR) was the most momentous key determinant to control high education governance (HEG), which means current higher-education students, staff, experts, and professionals are concerned with the various governance performances of their tuition and miscellaneous fees. As for the future direction, there are still some evaluated criteria and assessed methods to be comprehensively considered and employed for inducing in-depth conclusions and findings with higher research reliability and validity without time limitations and resource restrictions.
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Mehrafza M, Asgharnia M, Raoufi A, Hosseinzadeh E, Samadnia S, Roushan ZA. The effect of seasonality on reproductive outcome of patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Int J Reprod Biomed 2020; 18:989-994. [PMID: 33349808 PMCID: PMC7749974 DOI: 10.18502/ijrm.v13i11.7967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is conflicting evidence regarding the impact of season on the assisted reproductive technology outcome. Objective To retrospectively compare three year outcome of women undergoing their first intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle, across seasons. Materials and Methods In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 3,670 women who underwent their first intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle in Mehr Medical Institute, Rasht, Iran between April 2010 and May 2014 were studied. Women were divided into four groups according to the day of oocyte retrival as: spring (n = 808), summer (n = 994), autumn (n = 1066), and winter (n = 802). Basal and stimulation charecteristics were compared among groups. Results While sperm concentration and motility were significantly lower during summer, the total number of retrieved and metaphase II oocytes were significantly higher (p = 0.0001, p = 0.0001, p = 0.004, p = 0.02, respectively). Fertilization rate were significantly higher during autumn (p = 0.0001). Also, the number of high- quality transferred embryos were significantly higher during summer and winter (p = 0.03). A similar pattern was observed in implantation rate and pregnancy over the four seasons. Conclusion Despite the fact that intracytoplasmic sperm injection minimize the seasonal effect on pregnancy outcome, changes in pregnancy rate still occur among different seasons without particular pattern. It seems that performing assisted reproductive technology procedures in a particular season should be considered as an effective factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Mehrafza
- Mehr Fertility Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Maryam Asgharnia
- Mehr Fertility Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.,Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alzahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Azadeh Raoufi
- Mehr Fertility Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Elmira Hosseinzadeh
- Mehr Fertility Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Sajedeh Samadnia
- Mehr Fertility Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Zahra Atrkar Roushan
- Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alzahra Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
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Abstract
The seasonality of human births varies in different countries and regions. Explanations for this variation have been divided into biological and behavioural factors. This paper documents birth seasonality in mainland China using data for a large sample from China's Fifth National Population Census (FNPC) conducted in 2000. The main method used was the decomposition of monthly time series birth data into annual, seasonal and random trends. The results show large seasonal birth fluctuations, with a salient peak of October births. The study hypothesis is that this seasonal birth pattern is partially due to a home-bound wave of movement of people after the annual Spring Festival. Subsequent analysis of the calculated de-trended monthly births provided supportive evidence for this hypothesis. Further in-depth analysis showed that the magnitude of births varied with location and family characteristics. This result should inform researchers in the field of economics, where seasonality of births has been previously regarded as exogenous.
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10
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Long, dark, cozy nights? Hum Reprod 2020; 35:e1. [PMID: 32227248 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Intensity of Agricultural Workload and the Seasonality of Births in Italy. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POPULATION = REVUE EUROPEENNE DE DEMOGRAPHIE 2020; 36:141-169. [PMID: 32116482 DOI: 10.1007/s10680-019-09524-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
According to "the energy balance mechanism" theory, female ovarian function is strongly hindered by even a modest negative energy balance (the difference between calorie intake and calorie consumption). Agriculture-based economies were characterized by periods of extremely intense workload (especially in summer when grain was harvested) without sufficient nutrition. We analyze the role of the intensity of agricultural workload (proxied by marriage seasonality) on seasonal oscillations in births. Using data at the regional level, from Italian Unification to the eve of the World War I, we find some empirical support for the energy balance theory. In particular, we find the strength of the relationship between marriage seasonality and birth seasonality to be lower in the more developed Northern part of the Italian country, in which some signs of industrialization had already been present.
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12
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Cho H. Ambient temperature, birth rate, and birth outcomes: evidence from South Korea. POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT 2019; 41:330-346. [PMID: 32214579 PMCID: PMC7089350 DOI: 10.1007/s11111-019-00333-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The effects from rising temperatures, a symptom of climate change, have become a significant concern. This study finds that one additional day with a maximum temperature of 30-32 °C (86-89.6 °F), relative to a day with a temperature of 28-30 °C (82.4-86 °F), decreases the birth rate 9 months later by 0.24%, or 92 babies per month in South Korea. This result is robust to various specifications and samples. This study also found that the impact of the temperature bin did not vary according to the mother's characteristics, including education and age. That is, high temperature has no differential effect on mothers of different backgrounds. Finally, we found no significant temperature effect on birth outcomes, but we cannot rule out that children born 9 months after summer heat are a selected (healthy) group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunkuk Cho
- School of Economics and Finance, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan, 712-749 South Korea
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13
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Conway KS, Trudeau J. Sunshine, fertility and racial disparities. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2019; 32:18-39. [PMID: 30665057 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This research investigates the effect of sun exposure on fertility, with a special focus on how its effects and consequences for birth outcomes may differ by race. Sun exposure is a key mechanism for obtaining Vitamin D, but this process is inhibited by skin pigmentation. Vitamin D has been linked to male and female fertility and risk of miscarriage, and Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent among blacks than whites. Using 1989-2004 individual live births data from the Natality Detail Files, county-level, monthly conceptions are estimated as a function of monthly solar insolation, temperature and humidity, as well as month, time and location fixed effects and controls. Insolation has positive, statistically significant effects on fertility for both non-Hispanic blacks and whites, but the effects are stronger and the pattern of effect different for black mothers than white mothers. Poisson estimates from the main model suggest that a 1kWh increase in average daily insolation in the conception month - approximately the difference in sunshine experienced in the typical September vs. October - increases non-Hispanic black conceptions by 1% and non-Hispanic white conceptions by 0.6%. Allowing insolation's effect to differ by maternal characteristic suggests that the racial differences are not being driven by differences in socioeconomic status (SES). Models that allow for more complicated timing of insolation's effect further suggest that insolation pushes black (white) conceptions into the unfavorable (favorable) season of birth. These estimated effects and our decomposition analyses suggest that insolation - and the implied Vitamin D deficiency underlying its effect-helps explain why black conceptions are more likely to display a seasonal pattern that is disadvantageous to birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Smith Conway
- Department of Economics, University of New Hampshire, 10 Garrison Avenue, Durham, NH 03824, United States.
| | - Jennifer Trudeau
- Department of Business Economics, Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825, United States.
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14
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Wood IB, Varela PL, Bollen J, Rocha LM, Gonçalves-Sá J. Human Sexual Cycles are Driven by Culture and Match Collective Moods. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17973. [PMID: 29269945 PMCID: PMC5740080 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18262-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human reproduction does not happen uniformly throughout the year and what drives human sexual cycles is a long-standing question. The literature is mixed with respect to whether biological or cultural factors best explain these cycles. The biological hypothesis proposes that human reproductive cycles are an adaptation to the seasonal (hemisphere-dependent) cycles, while the cultural hypothesis proposes that conception dates vary mostly due to cultural factors, such as holidays. However, for many countries, common records used to investigate these hypotheses are incomplete or unavailable, biasing existing analysis towards Northern Hemisphere Christian countries. Here we show that interest in sex peaks sharply online during major cultural and religious celebrations, regardless of hemisphere location. This online interest, when shifted by nine months, corresponds to documented human births, even after adjusting for numerous factors such as language and amount of free time due to holidays. We further show that mood, measured independently on Twitter, contains distinct collective emotions associated with those cultural celebrations. Our results provide converging evidence that the cyclic sexual and reproductive behavior of human populations is mostly driven by culture and that this interest in sex is associated with specific emotions, characteristic of major cultural and religious celebrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian B Wood
- School of Informatics & Computing, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | | | - Johan Bollen
- School of Informatics & Computing, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.,Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Luis M Rocha
- School of Informatics & Computing, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA. .,Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal.
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15
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Fiessler C, Pfahlberg AB, Keller AK, Radespiel-Tröger M, Uter W, Gefeller O. Association between month of birth and melanoma risk: fact or fiction? Int J Epidemiol 2017; 46:686-693. [PMID: 27649803 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence on the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure in infancy on melanoma risk in later life is scarce. Three recent studies suggest that people born in spring carry a higher melanoma risk. Our study aimed at verifying whether such a seasonal pattern of melanoma risk actually exists. Methods Data from the population-based Cancer Registry Bavaria (CRB) on the birth months of 28 374 incident melanoma cases between 2002 and 2012 were analysed and compared with data from the Bavarian State Office for Statistics and Data Processing on the birth month distribution in the Bavarian population. Crude and adjusted analyses using negative binomial regression models were performed in the total study group and supplemented by several subgroup analyses. Results In the crude analysis, the birth months March-May were over-represented among melanoma cases. Negative binomial regression models adjusted only for sex and birth year revealed a seasonal association between melanoma risk and birth month with 13-21% higher relative incidence rates for March, April and May compared with the reference December. However, after additionally adjusting for the birth month distribution of the Bavarian population, these risk estimates decreased markedly and no association with the birth month was observed any more. Similar results emerged in all subgroup analyses. Conclusions Our large registry-based study provides no evidence that people born in spring carry a higher risk for developing melanoma in later life and thus lends no support to the hypothesis of higher UVR susceptibility during the first months of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Fiessler
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany and
| | - Annette B Pfahlberg
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany and
| | - Andrea K Keller
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany and
| | - Martin Radespiel-Tröger
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Centre for Early Cancer Detection and Cancer Registration, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Uter
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany and
| | - Olaf Gefeller
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany and
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16
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Polo P, Colmenares F. Seasonality of reproductive events and early mortality in a colony of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas hamadryas) over a 30-year period: Capital breeding and life history patterns in a food-provisioned population seasonally thermally stressed. Am J Primatol 2016; 78:1149-1164. [PMID: 27273743 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In environments where energy demands and resource availability vary seasonally, individuals are expected to time the optimal allocation of resources to support survival and reproduction. Although female baboons are regarded as all year round, capital breeders, we wondered how they would respond in an ecological scenario where food were not limiting, foraging effort were negligible, and they were thermally stressed during the cold winter. This study analyzes a 30-year database of conceptions, births, resumptions of postlactational ovarian activity, menarches, and prenatal and early postnatal reproductive failures recorded in a food-provisioned colony of hamadryas baboons located in a temperate zone (40°25'N) to search for seasonal patterns in their life-history patterns and explore its fitness consequences. The results show that the study females exhibited moderate seasonality and behaved like capital breeders; ovarian activity peaked during the period of benign weather conditions (spring and early summer) and births and lactation peaked during the period when they were thermally stressed and faced a negative energy balance (winter). Mistimed conceptions were more likely to fail than timed conceptions were, although this association could be artefactual due to the difficulty to accurately detect prenatal losses. Insolation and, to a lesser extent, temperature were positively associated with conceptions, resumptions of postlactational ovarian activity and onsets of menarche, and negatively associated with births. These findings highlight the extent of plasticity (width of peaks) and resiliency (retention of a capital breeding tactic even under highly seasonally thermally stressful cold conditions) in how primates can adjust their life history patterns and solve tradeoffs in a scenario of strong seasonal variation. Am. J. Primatol. 78:1149-1164, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Polo
- Grupo UCM de Estudio del Comportamiento Animal y Humano, Facultad de Psicología, Departamento de Psicobiología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Estudios Avanzados, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | - Fernando Colmenares
- Grupo UCM de Estudio del Comportamiento Animal y Humano, Facultad de Psicología, Departamento de Psicobiología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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17
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Reinberg A, Smolensky MH, Touitou Y. The full moon as a synchronizer of circa-monthly biological rhythms: Chronobiologic perspectives based on multidisciplinary naturalistic research. Chronobiol Int 2016; 33:465-79. [DOI: 10.3109/07420528.2016.1157083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alain Reinberg
- Unité de Chronobiologie, Fondation A de Rothschild, Paris cedex 19, France
| | - Michael H. Smolensky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Yvan Touitou
- Unité de Chronobiologie, Fondation A de Rothschild, Paris cedex 19, France
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18
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Huang WL, Hwang BT, Lai CT, Li JY, Kuo TBJ, Yang CCH. Is Heart Rate Variability Related to Season of Birth? Clin Cardiol 2015. [PMID: 26212374 DOI: 10.1002/clc.22410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Season of birth (SOB) has been found to be related to cardiovascular mortality, but the mechanisms are unclear. It is suggested that birth in winter is a protective factor for the circulatory system, and this should be able to be observed using heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. The phenomenon may have a sex difference and is likely to be modulated by climatic factors. This study focused on this problem and investigates healthy school-age children to minimize confounding factors. HYPOTHESIS Birth in winter is protective to cardiovascular system via autonomic modulation. There is a gender difference in the relationship between SOB and autonomic activity. Climatic factors are the cause of SOB effects on autonomic system. METHODS A total of 381 healthy school-age children were recruited for this study. Their HRV profiles were measured once and climatic information related to their month of birth was gathered. The HRV profiles of the 2 sexes and 4 seasons of birth were compared. Correlation and regression analysis were performed to clarify the relationship between climatic factors and the HRV results. RESULTS Boys born in winter have higher high-frequency power (HF) but a lower ratio of low-frequency power to high-frequency power (LF/HF) than do males born in other seasons. This result is not found for girls. Age and the temperature of the SOB are predictive factors for HF among boys. The humidity of SOB is a predictive factor for normalized low-frequency power (LF%) and LF/HF among girls. CONCLUSIONS Season of birth is related to both parasympathetic and sympathetic activity among school-age children, especially boys. Temperature and humidity are potential causes of this SOB phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Lieh Huang
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan.,Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Be-Tau Hwang
- Department of Pediatrics, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ting Lai
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Sleep Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Yi Li
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Sleep Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Terry B J Kuo
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Sleep Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheryl C H Yang
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Sleep Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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19
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Chan KA, Bernal AB, Vickers MH, Gohir W, Petrik JJ, Sloboda DM. Early life exposure to undernutrition induces ER stress, apoptosis, and reduced vascularization in ovaries of adult rat offspring. Biol Reprod 2015; 92:110. [PMID: 25810471 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.124149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal nutritional restriction has been shown to induce impairments in a number of organ systems including the ovary. We have previously shown that maternal undernutrition induces fetal growth restriction and low birth weight, and results in an offspring ovarian phenotype characteristic of premature ovarian aging with reduced ovarian reserve. In the present study, we set out to investigate the underlying mechanisms that lead offspring of undernourished mothers to premature ovarian aging. Pregnant dams were randomized to 1) a standard diet throughout pregnancy and lactation (control), 2) a calorie-restricted (50% of control) diet during pregnancy, 3) a calorie-restricted (50% of control) diet during pregnancy and lactation, or 4) a calorie-restricted (50% of control) diet during lactation alone. The present study shows that early life undernutrition-induced reduction of adult ovarian follicles may be mediated by increased ovarian endoplasmic reticulum stress in a manner that increased follicular apoptosis but not autophagy. These changes were associated with a loss of ovarian vessel density and are consistent with an accelerated ovarian aging phenotype. Whether these changes are mediated specifically by a reduction in the local antioxidant environment is unclear, although our data suggest the possibility that ovarian melatonin may play a part in early life nutritional undernutrition and impaired offspring folliculogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn A Chan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angelica B Bernal
- Liggins Institute and Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Mark H Vickers
- Liggins Institute and Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Wajiha Gohir
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jim J Petrik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deborah M Sloboda
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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20
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Pal L, Kidwai N, Kayani J, Grant WB. Donor egg IVF model to assess ecological implications for ART success. J Assist Reprod Genet 2014; 31:1453-60. [PMID: 25179156 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-014-0322-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Environmental influences on reproductive success are recognized. We hypothesized that location of fertility clinics may influence treatment success and explored this hypothesis utilizing donor egg IVF (IVF) embryo transfer (ET) model. METHODS Publicly accessible national registry data (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) on fresh & frozen (FET) ET cycles undertaken at participating clinics across North America (n = 444 IVF centers) for 2007 were utilized. Information on number of donor egg IVF cycles, live birth (LB) rate following fresh and frozen ET(FET), average number (#) of ET and IVF center's location, geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude), annualized average temperatures and midyear regional ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation intensity were obtained. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed relationship between LBR (in tertile and uppermost versus lesser quartiles) following fresh and FET with geographical coordinates (region and altitude of clinic location) and ecological influences (average temperature and midyear UVB intensity), adjusting for #ET and clinic experience with donor egg IVF. RESULTS Average number of fresh ET, clinic location (region) and midyear UVB intensity were positive predictors of LBR following fresh ET, whereas altitude and annualized average regional temperature demonstrated an inverse relationship with LBR following fresh ET. For FET cycles, #ET, clinic region and altitude were positive determinants of increasing LBR's. Annualized regional temperature and midyear UVB failed to demonstrate any relationship with LB following donor egg FET. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that ecological influences may relate to donor egg IVF cycle success. Future studies are needed to better elucidate the mechanisms that could explain the observed associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Pal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, FMB329, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA,
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21
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Chang EM, Kim YS, Won HJ, Yoon TK, Lee WS. Association between sex steroids, ovarian reserve, and vitamin D levels in healthy nonobese women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2014; 99:2526-32. [PMID: 24742123 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2013-3873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Vitamin D maintains calcium and phosphorous homeostasis and promotes bone mineralization; however, its nonskeletal functions are increasingly being recognized. Recent evidence supports a role for vitamin D in reproductive potential, but few studies have investigated the potential effects of vitamin D on reproductive hormone biosynthesis and ovarian reserve. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between the serum level of vitamin D, reproductive hormone levels, and ovarian reserve in healthy nonobese women. DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study. SETTING The study was performed at the Fertility Center at CHA Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS Seventy-three healthy women volunteers participated in this study. The participants were nonobese parous women with regular menstrual cycles and no history of infertility. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We determined serum levels of vitamin D, steroid hormones, SHBG, ovarian reserve markers, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index, and lipid profiles. RESULTS In linear regression analysis adjusting for age, body mass index, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and lipid profile, serum vitamin D level positively correlated with total T (P < .001) and free androgen index (P < .001) but did not correlate with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate or other steroid hormones. The spline regression-suggested relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and total T was most pronounced at a 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration greater than 13 ng/mL (β-coefficient 2.374, 95% confidence interval 1.435-3.313). The serum vitamin D level was not associated with the levels of ovarian reserve markers. CONCLUSION Our study revealed a positive correlation between serum vitamin D level and T level in healthy nonobese women, suggesting that vitamin D may increase fertility through the modulation of androgen activity. The possible causality of the relationship between vitamin D and T deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Mi Chang
- Fertility Center of CHA Gangnam Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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22
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Braga DPDAF, Setti A, Figueira RDCS, Iaconelli A, Borges E. Seasonal variability in the fertilization rate of women undergoing assisted reproduction treatments. Gynecol Endocrinol 2012; 28:549-52. [PMID: 22296507 DOI: 10.3109/09513590.2011.649812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether seasonality affects human-assisted reproduction treatment outcomes. For this, 1932 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were assigned to a season group according to the day of oocyte retrieval: winter (n = 435), spring (n = 444), summer (n = 469) or autumn (n = 584). Analysis of variance was used to compare the ICSI outcomes. The fertilization rate was increased during the spring (winter: 67.9%, spring: 73.5%, summer: 68.7% and autumn: 69.0%; p < 0.01). In fact, a nearly 50% increase in the fertilization rate during the spring was observed (odds ratio 1.45, confidence interval 1.20-1.75; p < 0.01). The oestradiol concentration per number of oocytes was significantly higher during the spring (winter: 235.8 pg/mL, spring: 282.1 pg/mL, summer: 226.1 pg/mL and autumn: 228.7 pg/mL; p = 0.030). This study demonstrates a seasonal variability in fertilization after ICSI, where fertilization is higher during the spring than at any other time.
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Aversa S, Pellegrino S, Barberi I, Reiter RJ, Gitto E. Potential utility of melatonin as an antioxidant during pregnancy and in the perinatal period. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2011; 25:207-21. [PMID: 21557691 DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2011.573827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of various diseases during pregnancy and the perinatal period. Newborns are more prone to oxidative stress than individuals later in life. During pregnancy, increased oxygen demand augments the rate of production of ROS and women, even during normal pregnancies, experience elevated oxidative stress compared with non-pregnant women. ROS generation is also increased in the placenta during preeclampsia. Melatonin is a highly effective direct free-radical scavenger, indirect antioxidant, and cytoprotective agent in human pregnancy and it appears to be essential for successful pregnancy. This suggests a role for melatonin in human reproduction and in neonatal pathologies (asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, etc.). This review summarizes current knowledge concerning the role for melatonin in human pregnancy and in the newborn. Numerous studies agree that short-term melatonin therapy is highly effective in reducing complications during pregnancy and in the neonatal period. No significant toxicity or treatment-related side effects with long-term melatonin therapy in children and adults have been reported. Treatment with melatonin might result in a wide range of health benefits, including improved quality of life and reduced healthcare costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Aversa
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Italy
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