title: Severe hyperemesis gravidarum is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity in the offspring in childhood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperemesis gravidarum alters maternal (and possibly fetal) nutrition throughout pregnancy, but there are no data on long-term effects on offspring metabolism. Thus, we aimed to assess whether severe hyperemesis gravidarum (SHG) affects glucose homeostasis and body composition in the offspring in childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy prepubertal children (aged 4-11 years) born at term were studied: offspring of mothers who were admitted to hospital with SHG (n = 36) and offspring of mothers from control pregnancies (n = 42). Primary outcome was insulin sensitivity measured using iv glucose tolerance tests and Bergman's minimal model. Other assessments included lipid and hormonal profiles and body composition using whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Insulin sensitivity in SHG children was 20% lower than in controls (8.49 vs 10.60 × 10(-4)·min(-1)·(mU/L); P = .014). SHG children also had higher fasting insulin (6.88 vs 5.04 mIU/L; P = .024) and lower IGF binding protein 1 (11.8 vs 19.0 ng/mL; P = .004) concentrations than controls. Baseline cortisol concentrations were 22% higher in SHG offspring (256 vs 210 nmol/L; P = .021). Children in both groups were anthropometrically similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children born to mothers who experienced SHG have lower insulin sensitivity, which may increase their long-term risk of developing diabetes mellitus. Follow-up of SHG offspring is essential to determine later risk of metabolic disease.
authors.affiliation: Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Ahila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayyavoo
authors.forename: José G B
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Derraik
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Janene
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Cormack
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Wayne S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Cutfield
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose; D006854:Hydrocortisone