Effect of low birth weight on adrenal steroids and carbohydrate metabolism in early adulthood.
OBJECTIVE
Data are inconsistent whether hyperinsulinemia might be associated with adrenal hyperandrogenism in young adults born with low birth weight (LBW).


METHODS
We investigated the insulin and adrenal steroid production of 70 young LBW adults [33 women (birth weight: 1,795 +/- 435 g) and 37 men (birth weight: 1,832 +/- 337 g)]. Their results were compared to those of 30 controls (14 men, 16 women), born with normal weight.


RESULTS
In LBW women, we measured higher basal DHEA (33.5 +/- 13.1 vs. 23.6 +/- 8.7 nmol/l, p < 0.05), DHEAS (8.0 +/- 2.3 vs. 6.3 +/- 2.1 micromol/l, p < 0.05), androstenedione (8.3 +/- 2.8 vs. 6.0 +/- 2.2 nmol/l, p < 0.05) and cortisol (0.25 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.20 +/- 0.07 micromol/l, p < 0.05) levels and higher insulin response during oral glucose tolerance test (log.AUCins: 2.62 +/- 0.06 vs. 2.57 +/- 0.03, p < 0.05). DHEA levels correlated with fasting insulin levels (r = 0.45, p < 0.01) and insulin response (r = 0.33, p < 0.05). In LBW men, higher cortisol (0.27 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.22 +/- 0.06 micromol/l, p < 0.01) and SHBG (18.4 +/- 10.4 vs. 12.7 +/- 5.9 nmol/l, p < 0.05) levels were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that modest hypercortisolism is present in young LBW adults. While the endocrine sequel of hypercortisolism raised insulin response and hyperandrogenism is detectable in apparently healthy young LBW women, it is absent in young LBW men. This suggests that gender-dependent mechanisms might play a role in the development of insulin resistance in LBW adults.
Szathmári
M
M
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Joint Research Program of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Korányi Sándor utca 2/A, HR-1083 Budapest, Hungary. szatmik@bell.sote.hu
Vásárhelyi
B
B
Tulassay
T
T
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
D007328:Insulin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone