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Published on: October 15, 2010
Endothelial function is impaired in fit young adults of low birth weight
J Goodfellow1, M F Bellamy, S T Gorman
1Cardiovascular Sciences Research Group, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
Insights
Low birth weight is linked to impaired endothelial function in young adults, suggesting it may precede adult diseases like diabetes and hypertension. This finding supports the
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)
Background:
- Non-insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease are linked to low birth weight, often termed 'Small Baby Syndrome'.
- Endothelial dysfunction is a common factor in these adult conditions.
- This study investigates if endothelial dysfunction precedes the development of these diseases in individuals with low birth weight.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction can precede the development of adult diseases associated with low birth weight.
- To investigate the link between fetal malnutrition and endothelial function.
Main Methods:
- Assessed endothelial function using ultrasonic 'wall-tracking' of flow-related brachial artery dilatation.
- Studied fit 19-20 year old subjects from the Cardiff Birth Survey (1975-7 cohort).
- Compared subjects with low (< 2.5 kg) and normal (3.0-3.8 kg) birth weights, excluding those with known causes for endothelial dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Flow-related brachial artery dilatation was significantly impaired in low birth weight subjects compared to normal birth weight subjects.
- Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was maintained even after excluding ever-smokers.
Conclusions:
- Endothelial dysfunction appears to be a consequence of fetal malnutrition.
- These findings support the 'Small Baby Syndrome' hypothesis, linking fetal development to adult cardiovascular health.
Objective:
Non-insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension and ischaemic heart disease, with insulin resistance, are associated with low birth weight (the 'Small Baby Syndrome'). Common to these adult clinical conditions is endothelial dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction could precede their development in those of low birth weight.
Methods:
Endothelial function was measured by ultrasonic 'wall-tracking' of flow-related brachial artery dilatation in fit 19-20 year old subjects randomly selected (blind to the investigators throughout the study) from low (< 2.5 kg) and normal (3.0-3.8 kg) birth weight subjects in the 1975-7 cohort of the Cardiff Births Survey and with no known cause for endothelial dysfunction.
Results:
Flow-related dilatation was impaired in low birth weight relative to normal birth weight subjects (median 0.04 mm [1.5%] [n = 22] cf. 0.11 mm [4.1%] [n = 17], p < 0.05; 0.04 mm [1.5%] [n = 15] cf. 0.12 mm [4.4%] [n = 12], p < 0.05 after exclusion of inadvertently included ever-smokers).
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that endothelial dysfunction is a consequence of foetal malnutrition, consistent with contributing to the clinical features of the 'Small Baby Syndrome' in later adult life.
