title: Catch-up growth in girls born small for gestational age precedes childhood progression to high adiposity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study across childhood the features of small for gestational age (SGA) girls with spontaneous catch-up growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study (age 2-8 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Post-catch-up SGA girls (n = 18) versus healthy control girls born appropriate for gestational age (AGA; n = 13).
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Height, weight, fasting glucose, insulin, IGF-I, high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, body composition by absorptiometry (2-8 years); visceral fat by magnetic resonance imaging (6-8 years); bone age (by automated reading), sex hormone-binding globulin, DHEAS, and leptin (8 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At age 2 years, AGA and SGA girls were comparable for all study markers. Between 2 and 8 years, girls were prepubertal; AGA and SGA girls gained height, lean mass, and bone mineral content similarly; other outcomes diverged so that, at age 8, SGA girls had markedly higher levels of circulating insulin, IGF-I, DHEAS, LDL cholesterol, and leptin; lower HMW adiponectin and SHBG levels; more total and visceral fat (without being obese); and an older bone age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After completing catch-up growth and before starting puberty, SGA girls develop an ensemble that includes not only central adiposity, hyperinsulinemia, and hypoadiponectinemia but also hyperleptinemia, dyslipidemia, lower SHBG and higher DHEAS levels, and faster bone maturation.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, and CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain. Libanez@hsjdbcn.org
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibáñez
authors.forename: Abel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez-Bermejo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Zegher
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies