title: Differential nongenetic impact of birth weight versus third-trimester growth velocity on glucose metabolism and magnetic resonance imaging abdominal obesity in young healthy twins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low birth weight is associated with type 2 diabetes, which to some extent may be mediated via abdominal adiposity and insulin resistance. Fetal growth velocity is high during the third trimester, constituting a potential critical window for organ programming. Intra-pair differences among monozygotic twins are instrumental in determining nongenetic associations between early environment and adult metabolic phenotype.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to investigate the relationship between size at birth and third-trimester growth velocity on adult body composition and glucose metabolism using intra-pair differences in young healthy twins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight healthy twins (42 monozygotic/16 dizygotic) aged 18-24 yr participated. Insulin sensitivity was assessed using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps. Whole-body fat was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan, whereas abdominal visceral and sc fat (L1-L4) were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Third-trimester growth velocity was determined by repeated ultrasound examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Size at birth was nongenetically inversely associated with adult visceral and sc fat accumulation but unrelated to adult insulin action. In contrast, fetal growth velocity during third trimester was not associated with adult visceral or sc fat accumulation. Interestingly, third-trimester growth was associated with insulin action in a paradoxical inverse manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominal adiposity including accumulation of both sc and visceral fat may constitute primary nongenetic factors associated with low birth weight and reduced fetal growth before the third trimester. Reduced fetal growth during vs. before the third trimester may define distinct adult trajectories of metabolic and anthropometric characteristics influencing risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
authors: Steno Diabetes Center, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark. kapg@steno.dk
authors: Kasper
authors: K
authors: Pilgaard
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Hammershaimb Mosbech
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Grunnet
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Eiberg
authors: Gerrit
authors: G
authors: Van Hall
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Fallentin
authors: Torben
authors: T
authors: Larsen
authors: Rasmus
authors: R
authors: Larsen
authors: Pernille
authors: P
authors: Poulsen
authors: Allan
authors: A
authors: Vaag
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000378:metabolism*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014427:Twins; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose