Šibenik babies largest in Europe, the second largest in the world

The forgotten research findings of the two eminent Šibenik gynecologists, Professor Frane Mikulandra from Šibenik Hospital and Docent Eugenio Stoini from the Knin Hospital, have finally reached the light of day.

Macrosomic babies 

The size of Šibenik newborn babies intrigued the pediatricians in the 80s. So, by the 90s, exact measurements and monitoring took place, to help identify and scientifically prove the phenomenon known as fetal macrosomia (babies that weigh more than 4 kilograms at birth).
The rate of fetal macrosomia born in Šibenik-Knin County during the 90s of the last century proposed a specific interest and research of two colleagues: Professor Frane Mikulandra and Docent Eugenio Stoini.
The results of their research have shown that while the rate of fetal macrosomia in the world tends to be from 3,4 - 12,9%, in Šibenik-Knin County it reaches an average of 19,4% during the research period. Some years have even shown specific highs like 1990 when this rate was a staggering 26,4%!

Scientific research unit founded in the Šibenik hospital

The significant deviation from the global and even regional averages suggested that every 5th child born in Šibenik-Knin County is macrosomic. This prompted the then Minister of Science Flego to authorize the establishment of a scientific research unit with its library within the Šibenik General Hospital.
Unfortunately, with the death of Professor Mikulandra whose initiative enabled its foundation, the unit was permanently closed.
The research conducted by Professor Mikulandra and Docent Stoini have shown that babies born at the Šibenik Hospital were the largest in Croatia, and whole of Europe, and even the second largest in the world.

Šibenik babies second largest in the whole world 

According to the words of Docent Stoini, the world's largest babies were babies descendants of one of the Cherokee Indian tribes, followed by Šibenik-Knin County's babies. The working title of the research the colleagues used at the time was the Dinarides - fetal macrosomia at children, descendants of the tribes that inhabit the geographic area of the Dinarides mountain range. 
The reasons for the observed deviation in the birth weight, besides others, were quality of life, soil, and drinking water, all the elements that contribute in making a place to flourish with life. This place is then prone to giving birth to the small giants of the Šibenik-Knin County.
This phenomenon has continued to be a focus of interest later on. In the year 1999 dr. Mila Periša has written her doctor's thesis based on this research.
Even though the research at that time was not concluded, it did provide an analysis of determining factors that contribute to the fetal macrosomia that is recognized at characteristic for this region.
During the research, it was concluded that the macrosomia rate is connected to the socio-economic factors but also to the benefits of the climate and the natural resources of the region. The number of sunshine hours, the quality of nutrition and the quality of drinking water, all play vital roles in the surprisingly high rate of macrosomic babies born in this area.

Both the research and the story of the babies of Šibenik region has been left hidden and untold until now. The small giants were waiting for the right moment to come out of the shadow and into the light.