title: Components of the metabolic syndrome in early childhood in very-low-birth-weight infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Term small-for-gestational-age and preterm born infants have an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome components already in childhood. Data in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) children are limited. We investigated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome components in VLBW infants at 2 years of corrected age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 38 children, participating in the Neonatal Insulin Replacement Therapy in Europe (NIRTURE) trial, a randomized controlled trial of early insulin therapy in VLBW infants. Metabolic syndrome components were defined as: body mass index SDS >2; blood pressure (systolic and/or diastolic) ≥ 90th percentile; triglycerides ≥ 0.98 mmol/l; high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ≤ 1.03 mmol/l; glucose ≥ 5.6 mmol/l.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two children (5%) had three metabolic syndrome components, 13 children (34%) had two components, and 11 children (29%) one component. 63% had raised blood pressure (prevalence higher in boys), 32% low HDL, and 30% high triglycerides (prevalence lower in early insulin group). In children with body mass index SDS <0, insulin-treated children had higher HDL than children with standard care. Systolic blood pressure was correlated with growth between term and 2 years of corrected age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VLBW infants already have a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome components at 2 years of corrected age. Early insulin treatment could have long-term benefits for some of these components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Harrie N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Lafeber
authors.forename: Anneke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cranendonk
authors.forename: Mirjam M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Weissenbruch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D059039:Standard of Care
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin