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Birth weight, subsequent growth, and cholesterol metabolism in children 8-12 years old born preterm

M Mortaz1, M S Fewtrell, T J Cole

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, King's College London, London W8 7AH, UK. m.mortaz@ich.ucl.ac.uk

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Birth size and growth impact cholesterol metabolism in preterm children. Smaller birth size and significant postnatal weight gain are linked to altered cholesterol absorption and synthesis later in childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Birth size and early growth are critical determinants of long-term health.
  • Cholesterol metabolism plays a vital role in overall health and disease prevention.
  • Understanding early life influences on metabolic programming is essential for pediatric health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between birth size, subsequent growth, and plasma lipid profiles in children.
  • To examine how cholesterol biosynthesis (lathosterol) and absorption (campesterol) markers relate to early growth patterns.
  • To determine if early life factors influence cholesterol metabolism programming in preterm children.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 412 preterm children (birth weight <1850g) with recorded birth data and follow-up at 8-12 years.
  • Measured plasma lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, triacylglycerol, lathosterol, and campesterol.
  • Analyzed associations between birth weight for gestational age, postnatal growth, and measured metabolic markers.

Main Results:

  • Birth weight for gestational age positively correlated with cholesterol absorption marker (campesterol).
  • Birth weight negatively correlated with cholesterol synthesis marker (lathosterol) after adjusting for current body size.
  • Postnatal weight gain (centile crossing) significantly influenced cholesterol synthesis and absorption markers, independent of birth size for some children.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm children with smaller birth size for gestational age exhibit lower cholesterol absorption efficiency later in childhood.
  • Accelerated postnatal growth is associated with higher endogenous cholesterol synthesis and lower absorption efficiency.
  • Fetal and childhood growth trajectories appear to program cholesterol metabolism in preterm children.
Abstract

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