Novel insights into the endocrine-metabolic and reproductive consequences of prenatal growth restraint in girls. Girls-born-small become women-born-small.
Emerging evidence indicates that prenatal growth relates to common disease in adulthood. Here, we review and embed a selection of advances within this field of research. Focus is on endocrine-metabolic and reproductive facets in girls and young women, who experienced a degree of prenatal growth restraint. Such early restraint has now been linked to variable constellations including the following: hyperinsulinemia; dyslipidemia; central adiposity; exaggerated adrenarche and precocious pubarche; early and rapidly progressive puberty; ovarian hyperandrogenism; elevated serum FSH and/or LH; small uterine and/or ovarian size; and oligo- or an-ovulation. Hyperinsulinemic insulin resistance is thought to be a prime pathogenetic factor. Accordingly, insulin sensitization is among the first therapeutic strategies explored, so far, with promising results.
de Zegher
Francis
F
Department of Pediatrics-University of Leuven, Heretsraat 49-B 3000 Leuven.
Ibánez
Lourdes
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D009839:Oligomenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors