An adult proteomic signature associated with very low birth weight and chronic disease risk
Med, 2026
Huang C., Seong D., Reiss J., Shu C., Sadeghi M., Chung P., Yang L., Xue L., Fang Y., Xu R., Ding X., Sheybani S., Han L., Mawuli B., Ghanem M., Kiamari M., Chang A., James T., Mataraso S., Espinosa C., Berson E., Tsao P., Angst M., Gaudiliere B., Prince L., Shaw G., Stevenson D., Aghaeepour N.
| Disease area | Application area | Sample type | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
Obstetrics | Pathophysiology | Plasma |  Olink Explore 3072/384 |
Abstract
People born very small face elevated risks of chronic disease across adulthood, yet birth history is rarely incorporated into adult health assessment. Huang and colleagues asked whether adult plasma proteomics captures biological information associated with recalled very low birth weight (VLBW). In more than 26,000 UK Biobank participants, they identified a proteomic index that distinguished birth-weight groups, outperformed birth weight in disease discrimination, and was associated with both adult disease burden and subsequent disease risk. The index also tracked disease among people with normal birth weight, suggesting capturing broader adult biological variation beyond VLBW alone. These findings establish a framework for studying how early-life history relates to adult molecular profiles and long-term health, while motivating independent validation in prospective cohorts.