title: Is Fat Mass Accretion of Late Preterm Infants Associated with Insulin Resistance?
abstract: Late preterm infants show a major fat mass accretion from birth to term. The contribution of preterm birth to the development of the metabolic syndrome is still under investigation.
  
  
  
  To evaluate body composition changes in late preterm infants during the first 3 months and to investigate their insulin sensitivity and resistance.
  
  
  
  We conducted an observational, longitudinal study. A total of 216 late preterm infants underwent body composition assessment using an air displacement plethysmograph at term and at 3 months of corrected age. In a subgroup of infants (n = 48) the blood glucose and insulin concentration were determined at term and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance; HOMA-IR) and sensitivity (quantitative insulin sensitivity check index; QUICKI) were then calculated. The reference group comprised 71 healthy term infants.
  
  
  
  The mean birth weight and gestational age were 2,390 ± 391 g and 35.2 ± 0.8 weeks, respectively. At term the fat mass index (kg/m2) of late preterm infants, born adequate for their gestational age and small for their gestational age, was higher than that of term infants (2.08 ± 0.82 vs. 1.62 ± 0.64 vs. 1.03 ± 0.36, p < 0.005, respectively), whereas at 3 months of corrected age no difference was found among the groups. The mean values of glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and QUICKI were within the 5th and 95th percentiles.
  
  
  
  On the basis of these preliminary findings, fat mass accretion of late preterm infants appears not to be associated with perturbation of the glucose homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. "Ca' Granda" Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liotto
authors.forename: Maria Lorella
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Giannì
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taroni
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roggero
authors.forename: Chiara Cristiana
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Condello
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orsi
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menis
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonfanti
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001823:Body Composition; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010991:Plethysmography; D011247:Pregnancy; D047929:Term Birth / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin
keywords: Fat mass; Insulin; Late preterm infants