IVF kids end up taller - study
(sz) World-first research from an Auckland University lab has found that children conceived by IVF are taller than their naturally conceived counterparts.
The Liggins Institute study found children conceived by in-vitro fertilisation were on average three centimetres taller than others.
The research has been published in the world’s leading journal on endocrinology, the study of hormone- secreting glands.
Associate Professor Wayne S Cutfield, who designed the study, said it proved IVF children were genetically different to other children.
“They’re taller, slightly slimmer and their blood lipids which regulate fat is better,” he said.
The researchers compared 69 IVF children, aged between 4 and 10, with 71 naturally conceived children.
Dr Cutfield believes that, in the 48 hours after fertilisation, the IVF embryos can “reprogramme” themselves in the unnatural surroundings of the lab. “Some of our genes can be altered by the environment.” more…
From: »stuff.co.nz«