Age-dependent nongenetic influences of birth weight and adult body fat on insulin sensitivity in twins.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized a nongenetic influence of birth weight (BW) and twin and zygosity status on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry determined adult total and regional body composition and a quantitative equal, although independent, importance of adult body composition and BW for insulin sensitivity.


METHODS
This was a clinical study of 110 young (aged 22-31 yr) and 86 elderly twins (aged 57-66 yr) and 32 age-matched controls with measures of BW, adult body composition, and insulin sensitivity.


RESULTS
BW was nongenetically, positively associated with height, weight, and total and regional (trunk, arm, and leg) fat mass and percentages in the young twins. In the elderly twins, BW was persistently nongenetically related to height as well as leg fat mass and percentage. Insulin sensitivity was nongenetically influenced by total fat percentage as well as arm and trunk fat percentages, all leading to a decrease in insulin sensitivity by 20% per sd increase in the elderly twins. Conversely, a sd increase in BW led to an increase of 16% in insulin sensitivity. Total body fat and regional fat was similarly associated with insulin sensitivity in the younger twins, whereas no influence of BW was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
BW was nongenetically, positively associated with adult height and total and regional fat mass in an age-dependent manner. BW and total and regional body fat percentages were nongenetically associated with insulin sensitivity in the elderly subjects, supporting an influence of the fetal environment on insulin sensitivity that is quantitatively similar to and independent of the effect of adult adiposity.
Steno Diabetes Center, Niels Steensens Vej 1, DK-2820 Gentofte, Denmark.
Rikke Nygaard
RN
Monrad
Louise Groth
LG
Grunnet
Eva Lind
EL
Rasmussen
Charlotte
C
Malis
Allan
A
Vaag
Pernille
P
Poulsen
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D014427:Twins / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult