Low birth weight for gestational age associates with reduced glucose concentrations at birth, infancy and childhood.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to investigate glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system status in children born small for gestational age (SGA).


METHODS
A case-control study was carried out at birth, infancy and childhood, comparing SGA with children appropriate for gestational age strictly matched for age, gender, pubertal status and body mass index. Ninety newborns, 52 infants, and 68 children were studied. Fasting insulin (I(F)), fasting glucose (G(F)) to I(F) ratio (G(F)/I(F)), the homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity, the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, insulinogenic index and the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio were measured. IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-3 and the IGF-I/IGF-binding protein-3 molar ratio were assessed.


RESULTS
Glucose concentrations were lower in SGA newborns (p < 0.0001), infants (p = 0.01), and children (p = 0.001). Birth weight correlated with glucose levels at birth (r = 0.59, p < 0.0001), 12 months (r = 0.29, p = 0.04) and childhood (r = 0.44, p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide evidence for a developmental adaptation of glucose metabolism in SGA children leading to reduced glucose concentrations.
Ghirri
Paolo
P
Division of Neonatology, S. Chiara Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Ladaki
Christini
C
Bartoli
Ambra
A
Scirè
Giuseppe
G
Vuerich
Marco
M
Spadoni
Gian Luigi
GL
Maiorana
Arianna
A
Geremia
Caterina
C
Boldrini
Antonio
A
Cianfarani
Stefano
S
D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D049628:Body Size; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose