Birth size and arterial compliance in young adults

The pulse-wave velocity was investigated among 951 men and women. The authors found that neither birth size nor interaction between birth size and adult size were associated with arterial pulse-wave velocity in men and women aged 25 years. The findings do not support the hypothesis that reduced arterial compliance in adulthood is more likely in individuals who were either light or short at birth. Young subjects provide reliable tests because alterations in elastin composition are seen in early life.