In vitro fertilization improves childhood growth and metabolism.
BACKGROUND
There is limited information regarding the long-term outcome of children born after in vitro fertilization (IVF), although an increase in rare imprinted gene disorders such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome has been reported.


METHODS
We recruited healthy, prepubertal children born at term after singleton pregnancy. The children in the study group were conceived using IVF with fresh embryo transfer, whereas controls were naturally conceived. Anthropometric measurements, bone age, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, fasting serum glucose, insulin, lipid profile, IGF-I and -II, and IGF-binding proteins 1, 2, and 3 were performed.


RESULTS
There were 69 IVF children aged 5.9 +/- 0.2 yr and 71 control children aged 6.9 yr. IVF children were taller than controls when corrected for parents' heights (height sd score of 1.05 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.51 +/- 0.11, P = 0.001) with higher levels of serum IGF-II (850 +/- 24 vs. 773 +/- 24 microg/liter, P = 0.03), higher IGF-I to IGF-binding protein 3 ratio (P = 0.04), and a trend toward higher IGF-I (105 +/- 4 vs. 92 +/- 4 microg/liter, P = 0.06). IVF children had higher high-density lipoprotein (1.67 +/- 0.04 mmol/liter vs. 1.53 +/- 0.04 mmol/liter, P = 0.02), lower triglycerides (0.65 +/- 0.04 mmol/liter vs. 0.78 +/- 0.04 mmol/liter, P = 0.02), and a lower total to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (2.58 vs. 2.86, P = 0.01). There were no differences in body composition.


CONCLUSIONS
IVF children are taller with higher IGF-I and IGF-II levels and have a slightly more favorable lipid profile. We speculate that IVF results in epigenetic change through altered methylation of genes involved in growth and metabolism. IVF programs should consider long-term longitudinal follow-up of IVF offspring.
Miles
Harriet L
HL
The National Research Centre for Growth and Development and Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
Hofman
Paul L
PL
Peek
John
J
Harris
Mark
M
Wilson
Dyanne
D
Robinson
Elizabeth M
EM
Gluckman
Peter D
PD
Cutfield
Wayne S
WS
D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008660:Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
C515497:IGFBP3 protein, human; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I