Increased oxidative stress in prepubertal children born small for gestational age.
BACKGROUND
Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. The development of insulin resistance (IR) seems to play a pivotal role; no data on the oxidant-antioxidant status are available in this risk group.


OBJECTIVE
This study is an assessment of oxidant-antioxidant status in prepubertal children born small for gestational age (SGA) in comparison to healthy controls and the relationship to IR.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study compares indexes of IR and oxidant-antioxidant status in three different groups (SGA+, SGA-, controls), with analysis by post hoc and Pearson correlation.


METHODS
The study was conducted in the Academic Department of Pediatrics.


METHODS
A total of 19 SGA+ and 16 SGA- children were compared with 13 controls.


METHODS
No intervention was used.


METHODS
Indexes of IR (glucose to insulin ratio, homeostasis model assessment of IR) were evaluated, and markers of oxidative stress (lag phase, malonildialdehyde, vitamin E) were measured.


RESULTS
Homeostasis model assessment of IR was significantly higher in SGA+ than SGA- children (1.32+/-0.9 vs. 0.69+/-0.47; P=0.03) and controls (0.71+/-0.37; P=0.04). Glucose to insulin ratio was significantly lower in SGA+ than SGA- children (12.41+/-5.01 vs. 26.54+/-17.18; P=0.02) and controls (26.96+/-20.70; P=0.04). Lag phase was significantly shorter in SGA+ than SGA- children (24.3+/-4.38 vs. 35.59+/-11.29 min; P=0.003) and controls (45.28+/-7.69 min; P=0.0001) and in SGA- than controls (P=0.01). Malonildialdehyde was significantly higher in SGA+ than SGA- children (0.79+/-0.3 vs. 0.6+/-0.1 nmol/mg; P=0.03) and controls (0.36+/-0.04 nmol/mg; P=0.0001) and in SGA- children than controls (P=0.02). Vitamin E was significantly reduced in SGA+ children than controls (27.54+/-7.9 vs. 43.23+/-11.32 micromol/liter; P=0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidative stress is present in both SGA+ and SGA- children, with a continuous alteration in relation to IR. Therefore, catch-up growth might exert the greatest influence in the development of future diseases.
Mohn
Angelika
A
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Via Dei Vestini 15, 66100 Chieti, Italy. amohn@unich.it
Chiavaroli
Valentina
V
Cerruto
Marina
M
Blasetti
Annalisa
A
Giannini
Cosimo
C
Bucciarelli
Tonino
T
Chiarelli
Francesco
F
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D044465:White People
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL