Abstract

Physical development in early life adapts to environmental circumstances through developmental plasticity. Despite short-term gains, altered developmental trajectories can have long-term health consequences. This study investigates the individual and combined associations of childhood socioeconomic circumstances and developmental plasticity with adult health biomarkers. Respondents from the West of Scotland Twenty-07 Study were followed from ages 15 to 35, with biomarkers sampled at 35 (n=736). Social class mobility from birth to 15 categories were stable non-manual, stable manual, upwardly mobile or downwardly mobile. Developmental categories, based on birthweight and height at 15 tertiles, were stable (eg, average birthweight and height), compensatory (eg, low birthweight, tall height) or limited (eg, large birthweight, short height). Sex-specific GLMs including developmental and socioeconomic categories (separate and combined models) were analysed against Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV₁), HDL-cholesterol (HDL), body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (BP), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). In men, those in stable manual and upward (vs stable non-manual) class categories showed higher BMI, HbA1c and BP, and lower HDL and FEV₁ (p<0.10). Limited development was associated with higher BMI and HbA1c, and lower FEV₁ (p<0.05). In women, those in the stable manual class had lower HDL and FEV₁, and higher HbA1c (p<0.05). Downward mobility was associated with lower HDL (p=0.018). Compensatory development was associated with higher FEV₁ (p<0.05). In both sexes, the socioeconomic- and developmental plasticity- biomarker associations remained significant in the combined analysis. Socioeconomic circumstances and developmental plasticity were associated with negative biomarker outcomes, although they follow independent associative pathways.