Syndrome X: a consequence of intra-uterine malnutrition?

The long-term consequences of intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) on postnatal growth and development are well known. More recently, several epidemiological and clinical studies in adults have provided evidence that low birth weight is an independent risk factor for the syndrome of insulin resistance in mid to late adulthood. In the present study, we demonstrated that individuals born small for gestational age showed isolated insulin resistance in early adulthood with no impairment of serum lipid concentrations and blood pressure at this age. Angiotensin-I converting enzyme gene polymorphism has also been shown to modulate the effect on insulin resistance of being small for gestational age. Fetal malnutrition may be the critical factor to explain the relationship between IUGR and insulin resistance which might be modulated by genetic factors.