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Are you shorter than you had hoped or
expected to be? Well, although genes play a large role
in a person's final adult height, new research suggests that the
amount of sunlight that a woman is exposed to during her pregnancy
may have a lot to do with it as well.
Researchers note that:
Several recent studies have reported a causal association
between stature and month of birth. Perinatal exposure to sunlight
has been suggested as the principal factor underlying this relationship,
although the mechanisms involved remain a matter of debate.
They analyzed the association of perinatal sunlight exposure to
birth size and height at regular intervals all the way up to age
26.
"The findings confirmed that pre-natal sunlight
is one of the most significant determinants of height,"
conclude the researchers, although they are unsure of the trimester
of greatest influence.
Early Human Development
November 1, 2000; 60: 35-42
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