How your birth month affects your risk of disease

New international research may have shed light on why babies born at different times of the year can be susceptible to developing certain health conditions.

Led by Nicholas Tatonetti, PhD, from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) along with Mary Regina Boland, PhD, now at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, the research looked at electronic health records from 10.5 million individuals from the US, South Korea, and Taiwan, including health records from 1.7 million patients in New York City.

Previous research has already shown clear links between prenatal and early childhood environmental exposure. For example, asthma risk is greatest for babies born in July and October, and babies born in winter tend to have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Those born in autumn appear to have a greater lifetime risk of depression.

However, by looking at patients living in three different countries and five different climates, the new research was able to examine how exposure to variety of seasonal or environmental factors during pregnancy may affect the risk of developing this diseases.

From the results, the team found that mothers who were exposed to low levels of sunlight during the third trimester of pregnancy had babies with an increased lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes. For women in New York City, this meant giving birth to a baby between December and March, when light levels are lowest, would put them an increased diabetes risk.

Mothers who were exposed to an increased amount of fine air particulates during the first trimester of pregnancy gave birth to children who had an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a potentially dangerous abnormal heart rhythm. As air pollution is highest in New York City in the summer, this would mean giving birth during the winter, and experiencing the first trimester during summer.

In addition, mothers who were exposed to higher doses of carbon monoxide, which varies depending on the location, during the first trimester gave birth to babies with an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

Dr. Tatonetti further explained: “For example, a mother’s exposure to fine air particulates raises her risk for high blood pressure, which is associated with high blood pressure in the offspring. And high blood pressure, in turn, is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

“Basically, we’re using the data to connect the dots. And by clarifying these connections, it may be possible to find new ways to prevent disease — such as recommending seasonal dosing for some prenatal supplements.”

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