Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project

A. Jelenkovic; Y. Yokoyama; R. Sund; C. Honda; L.H. Bogl; S. Aaltonen; F. Ji; F. Ning; Z. Pang; J.R. Ordoñana; J.F. Sánchez-Romera; L. Colodro-Conde; S.A. Burt; K.L. Klump; S.E. Medland; G.W. Montgomery; C. Kandler; T.A. McAdams; T.C. Eley; A.M. Gregory; K.J. Saudino; L. Dubois; M. Boivin; A.D. Tarnoki; D.L. Tarnoki; C.M.A. Haworth; R. Plomin; S.Y. Öncel; F. Aliev; M.A. Stazi; C. Fagnani; C. D'Ippolito; J.M. Craig; R. Saffery; S.H. Siribaddana; M. Hotopf; A. Sumathipala; F. Rijsdijk; T.D. Spector; M. Mangino; G. Lachance; M. Gatz; D.A. Butler; G. Bayasgalan; D. Narandalai; D.L. Freitas; J.A. Maia; K.P. Harden; E.M. Tucker-Drob; B. Kim; Y. Chong; C. Hong; H.J. Shin; K. Christensen; A. Skytthe; K.O. Kyvik; C.A. Derom; R.F. Vlietinck; R.J.F. Loos; W. Cozen; A.E. Hwang; T.M. Mack; M. He; X. Ding; B. Chang; J.L. Silberg; L.J. Eaves; H.H. Maes; T.L. Cutler; J.L. Hopper; K. Aujard; P.K.E. Magnusson; N.L. Pedersen; A.K. Dahl Aslan; Y.M. Song; S. Yang; K Lee; L.A. Baker; C. Tuvblad; M. Bjerregaard-Andersen; H. Beck-Nielsen; M. Sodemann; K. Heikkilä; Q. Tan; D. Zhang; G.E. Swan; R. Krasnow; K.L. Jang; A. Knafo-Noam; D. Mankuta; L. Abramson; P. Lichtenstein; R.F. Krueger; M. McGue; S. Pahlen; P. Tynelius; G.E. Duncan; D. Buchwald; R.P. Corley; B.M. Huibregtse; T.L. Nelson; K.E. Whitfield; C.E. Franz; W.S. Kremen; M.J. Lyons; S. Ooki; I. Brandt; T. Sevenius Nilsen; F. Inui; N. Watanabe; M. Bartels; C.E.M. van Beijsterveldt; J. Wardle; C.H. Llewellyn; A. Fisher; E. Rebato; N.G. Martin; Y. Iwatani; K. Hayakawa; J. Sung; J.R. Harris; G. Willemsen; A. Busjahn; J.H. Goldberg; F. Rasmussen; Y.M. Hur; D.I. Boomsma; T.I.A. Sorensen; J. Kaprio; K. Silventoinen

doi:10.1017/thg.2015.57

Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project

A. Jelenkovic, Y. Yokoyama, R. Sund, C. Honda, L.H. Bogl, S. Aaltonen, F. Ji, F. Ning, Z. Pang, J.R. Ordoñana, J.F. Sánchez-Romera, L. Colodro-Conde, S.A. Burt, K.L. Klump, S.E. Medland, G.W. Montgomery, C. Kandler, T.A. McAdams, T.C. Eley, A.M. GregoryK.J. Saudino, L. Dubois, M. Boivin, A.D. Tarnoki, D.L. Tarnoki, C.M.A. Haworth, R. Plomin, S.Y. Öncel, F. Aliev, M.A. Stazi, C. Fagnani, C. D'Ippolito, J.M. Craig, R. Saffery, S.H. Siribaddana, M. Hotopf, A. Sumathipala, F. Rijsdijk, T.D. Spector, M. Mangino, G. Lachance, M. Gatz, D.A. Butler, G. Bayasgalan, D. Narandalai, D.L. Freitas, J.A. Maia, K.P. Harden, E.M. Tucker-Drob, B. Kim, Y. Chong, C. Hong, H.J. Shin, K. Christensen, A. Skytthe, K.O. Kyvik, C.A. Derom, R.F. Vlietinck, R.J.F. Loos, W. Cozen, A.E. Hwang, T.M. Mack, M. He, X. Ding, B. Chang, J.L. Silberg, L.J. Eaves, H.H. Maes, T.L. Cutler, J.L. Hopper, K. Aujard, P.K.E. Magnusson, N.L. Pedersen, A.K. Dahl Aslan, Y.M. Song, S. Yang, K Lee, L.A. Baker, C. Tuvblad, M. Bjerregaard-Andersen, H. Beck-Nielsen, M. Sodemann, K. Heikkilä, Q. Tan, D. Zhang, G.E. Swan, R. Krasnow, K.L. Jang, A. Knafo-Noam, D. Mankuta, L. Abramson, P. Lichtenstein, R.F. Krueger, M. McGue, S. Pahlen, P. Tynelius, G.E. Duncan, D. Buchwald, R.P. Corley, B.M. Huibregtse, T.L. Nelson, K.E. Whitfield, C.E. Franz, W.S. Kremen, M.J. Lyons, S. Ooki, I. Brandt, T. Sevenius Nilsen, F. Inui, N. Watanabe, M. Bartels, C.E.M. van Beijsterveldt, J. Wardle, C.H. Llewellyn, A. Fisher, E. Rebato, N.G. Martin, Y. Iwatani, K. Hayakawa, J. Sung, J.R. Harris, G. Willemsen, A. Busjahn, J.H. Goldberg, F. Rasmussen, Y.M. Hur, D.I. Boomsma, T.I.A. Sorensen, J. Kaprio, K. Silventoinen

Biological Psychology

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

A trend toward greater body size in dizygotic (DZ) than in monozygotic (MZ) twins has been suggested by some but not all studies, and this difference may also vary by age. We analyzed zygosity differences in mean values and variances of height and body mass index (BMI) among male and female twins from infancy to old age. Data were derived from an international database of 54 twin cohorts participating in the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins), and included 842,951 height and BMI measurements from twins aged 1 to 102 years. The results showed that DZ twins were consistently taller than MZ twins, with differences of up to 2.0 cm in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.9 cm in adulthood. Similarly, a greater mean BMI of up to 0.3 kg/m² in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.2 kg/m² in adulthood was observed in DZ twins, although the pattern was less consistent. DZ twins presented up to 1.7% greater height and 1.9% greater BMI than MZ twins; these percentage differences were largest in middle and late childhood and decreased with age in both sexes. The variance of height was similar in MZ and DZ twins at most ages. In contrast, the variance of BMI was significantly higher in DZ than in MZ twins, particularly in childhood. In conclusion, DZ twins were generally taller and had greater BMI than MZ twins, but the differences decreased with age in both sexes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	557-570
Number of pages	14
Journal	Twin Research and Human Genetics
Volume	18
Issue number	05
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2015.57
Publication status	Published - 2015

Cohort Studies

Netherlands Twin Register (NTR)

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10.1017/thg.2015.57

Cite this

Jelenkovic, A., Yokoyama, Y., Sund, R., Honda, C., Bogl, L. H., Aaltonen, S., Ji, F., Ning, F., Pang, Z., Ordoñana, J. R., Sánchez-Romera, J. F., Colodro-Conde, L., Burt, S. A., Klump, K. L., Medland, S. E., Montgomery, G. W., Kandler, C., McAdams, T. A., Eley, T. C., ... Silventoinen, K. (2015). Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 18(05), 557-570. https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2015.57

Jelenkovic, A. ; Yokoyama, Y. ; Sund, R. ; Honda, C. ; Bogl, L.H. ; Aaltonen, S. ; Ji, F. ; Ning, F. ; Pang, Z. ; Ordoñana, J.R. ; Sánchez-Romera, J.F. ; Colodro-Conde, L. ; Burt, S.A. ; Klump, K.L. ; Medland, S.E. ; Montgomery, G.W. ; Kandler, C. ; McAdams, T.A. ; Eley, T.C. ; Gregory, A.M. ; Saudino, K.J. ; Dubois, L. ; Boivin, M. ; Tarnoki, A.D. ; Tarnoki, D.L. ; Haworth, C.M.A. ; Plomin, R. ; Öncel, S.Y. ; Aliev, F. ; Stazi, M.A. ; Fagnani, C. ; D'Ippolito, C. ; Craig, J.M. ; Saffery, R. ; Siribaddana, S.H. ; Hotopf, M. ; Sumathipala, A. ; Rijsdijk, F. ; Spector, T.D. ; Mangino, M. ; Lachance, G. ; Gatz, M. ; Butler, D.A. ; Bayasgalan, G. ; Narandalai, D. ; Freitas, D.L. ; Maia, J.A. ; Harden, K.P. ; Tucker-Drob, E.M. ; Kim, B. ; Chong, Y. ; Hong, C. ; Shin, H.J. ; Christensen, K. ; Skytthe, A. ; Kyvik, K.O. ; Derom, C.A. ; Vlietinck, R.F. ; Loos, R.J.F. ; Cozen, W. ; Hwang, A.E. ; Mack, T.M. ; He, M. ; Ding, X. ; Chang, B. ; Silberg, J.L. ; Eaves, L.J. ; Maes, H.H. ; Cutler, T.L. ; Hopper, J.L. ; Aujard, K. ; Magnusson, P.K.E. ; Pedersen, N.L. ; Dahl Aslan, A.K. ; Song, Y.M. ; Yang, S. ; Lee, K ; Baker, L.A. ; Tuvblad, C. ; Bjerregaard-Andersen, M. ; Beck-Nielsen, H. ; Sodemann, M. ; Heikkilä, K. ; Tan, Q. ; Zhang, D. ; Swan, G.E. ; Krasnow, R. ; Jang, K.L. ; Knafo-Noam, A. ; Mankuta, D. ; Abramson, L. ; Lichtenstein, P. ; Krueger, R.F. ; McGue, M. ; Pahlen, S. ; Tynelius, P. ; Duncan, G.E. ; Buchwald, D. ; Corley, R.P. ; Huibregtse, B.M. ; Nelson, T.L. ; Whitfield, K.E. ; Franz, C.E. ; Kremen, W.S. ; Lyons, M.J. ; Ooki, S. ; Brandt, I. ; Sevenius Nilsen, T. ; Inui, F. ; Watanabe, N. ; Bartels, M. ; van Beijsterveldt, C.E.M. ; Wardle, J. ; Llewellyn, C.H. ; Fisher, A. ; Rebato, E. ; Martin, N.G. ; Iwatani, Y. ; Hayakawa, K. ; Sung, J. ; Harris, J.R. ; Willemsen, G. ; Busjahn, A. ; Goldberg, J.H. ; Rasmussen, F. ; Hur, Y.M. ; Boomsma, D.I. ; Sorensen, T.I.A. ; Kaprio, J. ; Silventoinen, K. / Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project. In: Twin Research and Human Genetics. 2015 ; Vol. 18, No. 05. pp. 557-570.

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title = "Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project",

abstract = "A trend toward greater body size in dizygotic (DZ) than in monozygotic (MZ) twins has been suggested by some but not all studies, and this difference may also vary by age. We analyzed zygosity differences in mean values and variances of height and body mass index (BMI) among male and female twins from infancy to old age. Data were derived from an international database of 54 twin cohorts participating in the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins), and included 842,951 height and BMI measurements from twins aged 1 to 102 years. The results showed that DZ twins were consistently taller than MZ twins, with differences of up to 2.0 cm in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.9 cm in adulthood. Similarly, a greater mean BMI of up to 0.3 kg/m2 in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.2 kg/m2 in adulthood was observed in DZ twins, although the pattern was less consistent. DZ twins presented up to 1.7% greater height and 1.9% greater BMI than MZ twins; these percentage differences were largest in middle and late childhood and decreased with age in both sexes. The variance of height was similar in MZ and DZ twins at most ages. In contrast, the variance of BMI was significantly higher in DZ than in MZ twins, particularly in childhood. In conclusion, DZ twins were generally taller and had greater BMI than MZ twins, but the differences decreased with age in both sexes.",

author = "A. Jelenkovic and Y. Yokoyama and R. Sund and C. Honda and L.H. Bogl and S. Aaltonen and F. Ji and F. Ning and Z. Pang and J.R. Ordo{\~n}ana and J.F. S{\'a}nchez-Romera and L. Colodro-Conde and S.A. Burt and K.L. Klump and S.E. Medland and G.W. Montgomery and C. Kandler and T.A. McAdams and T.C. Eley and A.M. Gregory and K.J. Saudino and L. Dubois and M. Boivin and A.D. Tarnoki and D.L. Tarnoki and C.M.A. Haworth and R. Plomin and S.Y. {\"O}ncel and F. Aliev and M.A. Stazi and C. Fagnani and C. D'Ippolito and J.M. Craig and R. Saffery and S.H. Siribaddana and M. Hotopf and A. Sumathipala and F. Rijsdijk and T.D. Spector and M. Mangino and G. Lachance and M. Gatz and D.A. Butler and G. Bayasgalan and D. Narandalai and D.L. Freitas and J.A. Maia and K.P. Harden and E.M. Tucker-Drob and B. Kim and Y. Chong and C. Hong and H.J. Shin and K. Christensen and A. Skytthe and K.O. Kyvik and C.A. Derom and R.F. Vlietinck and R.J.F. Loos and W. Cozen and A.E. Hwang and T.M. Mack and M. He and X. Ding and B. Chang and J.L. Silberg and L.J. Eaves and H.H. Maes and T.L. Cutler and J.L. Hopper and K. Aujard and P.K.E. Magnusson and N.L. Pedersen and {Dahl Aslan}, A.K. and Y.M. Song and S. Yang and K Lee and L.A. Baker and C. Tuvblad and M. Bjerregaard-Andersen and H. Beck-Nielsen and M. Sodemann and K. Heikkil{\"a} and Q. Tan and D. Zhang and G.E. Swan and R. Krasnow and K.L. Jang and A. Knafo-Noam and D. Mankuta and L. Abramson and P. Lichtenstein and R.F. Krueger and M. McGue and S. Pahlen and P. Tynelius and G.E. Duncan and D. Buchwald and R.P. Corley and B.M. Huibregtse and T.L. Nelson and K.E. Whitfield and C.E. Franz and W.S. Kremen and M.J. Lyons and S. Ooki and I. Brandt and {Sevenius Nilsen}, T. and F. Inui and N. Watanabe and M. Bartels and {van Beijsterveldt}, C.E.M. and J. Wardle and C.H. Llewellyn and A. Fisher and E. Rebato and N.G. Martin and Y. Iwatani and K. Hayakawa and J. Sung and J.R. Harris and G. Willemsen and A. Busjahn and J.H. Goldberg and F. Rasmussen and Y.M. Hur and D.I. Boomsma and T.I.A. Sorensen and J. Kaprio and K. Silventoinen",

year = "2015",

doi = "10.1017/thg.2015.57",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

pages = "557--570",

journal = "Twin Research and Human Genetics",

issn = "1832-4274",

publisher = "Australian Academic Press",

number = "05",

}

Jelenkovic, A, Yokoyama, Y, Sund, R, Honda, C, Bogl, LH, Aaltonen, S, Ji, F, Ning, F, Pang, Z, Ordoñana, JR, Sánchez-Romera, JF, Colodro-Conde, L, Burt, SA, Klump, KL, Medland, SE, Montgomery, GW, Kandler, C, McAdams, TA, Eley, TC, Gregory, AM, Saudino, KJ, Dubois, L, Boivin, M, Tarnoki, AD, Tarnoki, DL, Haworth, CMA, Plomin, R, Öncel, SY, Aliev, F, Stazi, MA, Fagnani, C, D'Ippolito, C, Craig, JM, Saffery, R, Siribaddana, SH, Hotopf, M, Sumathipala, A, Rijsdijk, F, Spector, TD, Mangino, M, Lachance, G, Gatz, M, Butler, DA, Bayasgalan, G, Narandalai, D, Freitas, DL, Maia, JA, Harden, KP, Tucker-Drob, EM, Kim, B, Chong, Y, Hong, C, Shin, HJ, Christensen, K, Skytthe, A, Kyvik, KO, Derom, CA, Vlietinck, RF, Loos, RJF, Cozen, W, Hwang, AE, Mack, TM, He, M, Ding, X, Chang, B, Silberg, JL, Eaves, LJ, Maes, HH, Cutler, TL, Hopper, JL, Aujard, K, Magnusson, PKE, Pedersen, NL, Dahl Aslan, AK, Song, YM, Yang, S, Lee, K, Baker, LA, Tuvblad, C, Bjerregaard-Andersen, M, Beck-Nielsen, H, Sodemann, M, Heikkilä, K, Tan, Q, Zhang, D, Swan, GE, Krasnow, R, Jang, KL, Knafo-Noam, A, Mankuta, D, Abramson, L, Lichtenstein, P, Krueger, RF, McGue, M, Pahlen, S, Tynelius, P, Duncan, GE, Buchwald, D, Corley, RP, Huibregtse, BM, Nelson, TL, Whitfield, KE, Franz, CE, Kremen, WS, Lyons, MJ, Ooki, S, Brandt, I, Sevenius Nilsen, T, Inui, F, Watanabe, N, Bartels, M , van Beijsterveldt, CEM, Wardle, J, Llewellyn, CH, Fisher, A, Rebato, E, Martin, NG, Iwatani, Y, Hayakawa, K, Sung, J, Harris, JR, Willemsen, G, Busjahn, A, Goldberg, JH, Rasmussen, F, Hur, YM, Boomsma, DI, Sorensen, TIA, Kaprio, J & Silventoinen, K 2015, 'Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project', Twin Research and Human Genetics, vol. 18, no. 05, pp. 557-570. https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2015.57

Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project. / Jelenkovic, A.; Yokoyama, Y.; Sund, R.; Honda, C.; Bogl, L.H.; Aaltonen, S.; Ji, F.; Ning, F.; Pang, Z.; Ordoñana, J.R.; Sánchez-Romera, J.F.; Colodro-Conde, L.; Burt, S.A.; Klump, K.L.; Medland, S.E.; Montgomery, G.W.; Kandler, C.; McAdams, T.A.; Eley, T.C.; Gregory, A.M.; Saudino, K.J.; Dubois, L.; Boivin, M.; Tarnoki, A.D.; Tarnoki, D.L.; Haworth, C.M.A.; Plomin, R.; Öncel, S.Y.; Aliev, F.; Stazi, M.A.; Fagnani, C.; D'Ippolito, C.; Craig, J.M.; Saffery, R.; Siribaddana, S.H.; Hotopf, M.; Sumathipala, A.; Rijsdijk, F.; Spector, T.D.; Mangino, M.; Lachance, G.; Gatz, M.; Butler, D.A.; Bayasgalan, G.; Narandalai, D.; Freitas, D.L.; Maia, J.A.; Harden, K.P.; Tucker-Drob, E.M.; Kim, B.; Chong, Y.; Hong, C.; Shin, H.J.; Christensen, K.; Skytthe, A.; Kyvik, K.O.; Derom, C.A.; Vlietinck, R.F.; Loos, R.J.F.; Cozen, W.; Hwang, A.E.; Mack, T.M.; He, M.; Ding, X.; Chang, B.; Silberg, J.L.; Eaves, L.J.; Maes, H.H.; Cutler, T.L.; Hopper, J.L.; Aujard, K.; Magnusson, P.K.E.; Pedersen, N.L.; Dahl Aslan, A.K.; Song, Y.M.; Yang, S.; Lee, K; Baker, L.A.; Tuvblad, C.; Bjerregaard-Andersen, M.; Beck-Nielsen, H.; Sodemann, M.; Heikkilä, K.; Tan, Q.; Zhang, D.; Swan, G.E.; Krasnow, R.; Jang, K.L.; Knafo-Noam, A.; Mankuta, D.; Abramson, L.; Lichtenstein, P.; Krueger, R.F.; McGue, M.; Pahlen, S.; Tynelius, P.; Duncan, G.E.; Buchwald, D.; Corley, R.P.; Huibregtse, B.M.; Nelson, T.L.; Whitfield, K.E.; Franz, C.E.; Kremen, W.S.; Lyons, M.J.; Ooki, S.; Brandt, I.; Sevenius Nilsen, T.; Inui, F.; Watanabe, N.; Bartels, M.; van Beijsterveldt, C.E.M.; Wardle, J.; Llewellyn, C.H.; Fisher, A.; Rebato, E.; Martin, N.G.; Iwatani, Y.; Hayakawa, K.; Sung, J.; Harris, J.R.; Willemsen, G.; Busjahn, A.; Goldberg, J.H.; Rasmussen, F.; Hur, Y.M.; Boomsma, D.I.; Sorensen, T.I.A.; Kaprio, J.; Silventoinen, K.

In: Twin Research and Human Genetics, Vol. 18, No. 05, 2015, p. 557-570.

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project

AU - Jelenkovic, A.

AU - Yokoyama, Y.

AU - Sund, R.

AU - Honda, C.

AU - Bogl, L.H.

AU - Aaltonen, S.

AU - Ji, F.

AU - Ning, F.

AU - Pang, Z.

AU - Ordoñana, J.R.

AU - Sánchez-Romera, J.F.

AU - Colodro-Conde, L.

AU - Burt, S.A.

AU - Klump, K.L.

AU - Medland, S.E.

AU - Montgomery, G.W.

AU - Kandler, C.

AU - McAdams, T.A.

AU - Eley, T.C.

AU - Gregory, A.M.

AU - Saudino, K.J.

AU - Dubois, L.

AU - Boivin, M.

AU - Tarnoki, A.D.

AU - Tarnoki, D.L.

AU - Haworth, C.M.A.

AU - Plomin, R.

AU - Öncel, S.Y.

AU - Aliev, F.

AU - Stazi, M.A.

AU - Fagnani, C.

AU - D'Ippolito, C.

AU - Craig, J.M.

AU - Saffery, R.

AU - Siribaddana, S.H.

AU - Hotopf, M.

AU - Sumathipala, A.

AU - Rijsdijk, F.

AU - Spector, T.D.

AU - Mangino, M.

AU - Lachance, G.

AU - Gatz, M.

AU - Butler, D.A.

AU - Bayasgalan, G.

AU - Narandalai, D.

AU - Freitas, D.L.

AU - Maia, J.A.

AU - Harden, K.P.

AU - Tucker-Drob, E.M.

AU - Kim, B.

AU - Chong, Y.

AU - Hong, C.

AU - Shin, H.J.

AU - Christensen, K.

AU - Skytthe, A.

AU - Kyvik, K.O.

AU - Derom, C.A.

AU - Vlietinck, R.F.

AU - Loos, R.J.F.

AU - Cozen, W.

AU - Hwang, A.E.

AU - Mack, T.M.

AU - He, M.

AU - Ding, X.

AU - Chang, B.

AU - Silberg, J.L.

AU - Eaves, L.J.

AU - Maes, H.H.

AU - Cutler, T.L.

AU - Hopper, J.L.

AU - Aujard, K.

AU - Magnusson, P.K.E.

AU - Pedersen, N.L.

AU - Dahl Aslan, A.K.

AU - Song, Y.M.

AU - Yang, S.

AU - Lee, K

AU - Baker, L.A.

AU - Tuvblad, C.

AU - Bjerregaard-Andersen, M.

AU - Beck-Nielsen, H.

AU - Sodemann, M.

AU - Heikkilä, K.

AU - Tan, Q.

AU - Zhang, D.

AU - Swan, G.E.

AU - Krasnow, R.

AU - Jang, K.L.

AU - Knafo-Noam, A.

AU - Mankuta, D.

AU - Abramson, L.

AU - Lichtenstein, P.

AU - Krueger, R.F.

AU - McGue, M.

AU - Pahlen, S.

AU - Tynelius, P.

AU - Duncan, G.E.

AU - Buchwald, D.

AU - Corley, R.P.

AU - Huibregtse, B.M.

AU - Nelson, T.L.

AU - Whitfield, K.E.

AU - Franz, C.E.

AU - Kremen, W.S.

AU - Lyons, M.J.

AU - Ooki, S.

AU - Brandt, I.

AU - Sevenius Nilsen, T.

AU - Inui, F.

AU - Watanabe, N.

AU - Bartels, M.

AU - van Beijsterveldt, C.E.M.

AU - Wardle, J.

AU - Llewellyn, C.H.

AU - Fisher, A.

AU - Rebato, E.

AU - Martin, N.G.

AU - Iwatani, Y.

AU - Hayakawa, K.

AU - Sung, J.

AU - Harris, J.R.

AU - Willemsen, G.

AU - Busjahn, A.

AU - Goldberg, J.H.

AU - Rasmussen, F.

AU - Hur, Y.M.

AU - Boomsma, D.I.

AU - Sorensen, T.I.A.

AU - Kaprio, J.

AU - Silventoinen, K.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - A trend toward greater body size in dizygotic (DZ) than in monozygotic (MZ) twins has been suggested by some but not all studies, and this difference may also vary by age. We analyzed zygosity differences in mean values and variances of height and body mass index (BMI) among male and female twins from infancy to old age. Data were derived from an international database of 54 twin cohorts participating in the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins), and included 842,951 height and BMI measurements from twins aged 1 to 102 years. The results showed that DZ twins were consistently taller than MZ twins, with differences of up to 2.0 cm in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.9 cm in adulthood. Similarly, a greater mean BMI of up to 0.3 kg/m2 in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.2 kg/m2 in adulthood was observed in DZ twins, although the pattern was less consistent. DZ twins presented up to 1.7% greater height and 1.9% greater BMI than MZ twins; these percentage differences were largest in middle and late childhood and decreased with age in both sexes. The variance of height was similar in MZ and DZ twins at most ages. In contrast, the variance of BMI was significantly higher in DZ than in MZ twins, particularly in childhood. In conclusion, DZ twins were generally taller and had greater BMI than MZ twins, but the differences decreased with age in both sexes.

AB - A trend toward greater body size in dizygotic (DZ) than in monozygotic (MZ) twins has been suggested by some but not all studies, and this difference may also vary by age. We analyzed zygosity differences in mean values and variances of height and body mass index (BMI) among male and female twins from infancy to old age. Data were derived from an international database of 54 twin cohorts participating in the COllaborative project of Development of Anthropometrical measures in Twins (CODATwins), and included 842,951 height and BMI measurements from twins aged 1 to 102 years. The results showed that DZ twins were consistently taller than MZ twins, with differences of up to 2.0 cm in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.9 cm in adulthood. Similarly, a greater mean BMI of up to 0.3 kg/m2 in childhood and adolescence and up to 0.2 kg/m2 in adulthood was observed in DZ twins, although the pattern was less consistent. DZ twins presented up to 1.7% greater height and 1.9% greater BMI than MZ twins; these percentage differences were largest in middle and late childhood and decreased with age in both sexes. The variance of height was similar in MZ and DZ twins at most ages. In contrast, the variance of BMI was significantly higher in DZ than in MZ twins, particularly in childhood. In conclusion, DZ twins were generally taller and had greater BMI than MZ twins, but the differences decreased with age in both sexes.

U2 - 10.1017/thg.2015.57

DO - 10.1017/thg.2015.57

M3 - Article

VL - 18

SP - 557

EP - 570

JO - Twin Research and Human Genetics

JF - Twin Research and Human Genetics

SN - 1832-4274

IS - 05

ER -

Zygosity Differences in Height and Body Mass Index of Twins From Infancy to Old Age: A Study of the CODATwins Project

Abstract

Cohort Studies

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