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Insulin levels in low birth weight neonates

K K Yada1, Rajeev Gupta, Arvind Gupta

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India.

The Indian Journal of Medical Research
|January 16, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Both low and high birth weight neonates exhibit elevated insulin levels, suggesting a U-shaped relationship influenced by fetal nutrition and genetics. This finding is crucial for understanding early life factors in insulin resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal metabolism and endocrinology.
  • Paediatric research into metabolic health.

Background:

  • Foetal undernutrition is linked to adult insulin resistance and diabetes.
  • Insulin kinetics in early life are not well understood.
  • Birth weight is a key indicator of fetal growth and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine insulin levels in low birth weight neonates.
  • To compare insulin levels across different birth weight groups (low, normal, high).
  • To investigate early life insulin kinetics in relation to birth weight.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 30 neonates (7 days old) divided into low (<2500g), normal (2500-3500g), and high (>3500g) birth weight groups.
  • Anthropometry, fasting blood samples (glucose, lipids, insulin, C-peptide), and post-glucose load insulin and glucose levels were analyzed.
  • Insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA).

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in cholesterol, triglycerides, or glucose levels were found between groups.
  • Fasting and post-glucose insulin levels showed a U-shaped trend with birth weight.
  • A significant inverse quadratic correlation (U-shaped curve) was observed between body weight and insulin/C-peptide levels (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Both low and high birth weight term neonates present with elevated fasting and post-glucose insulin levels.
  • This U-shaped trend suggests the influence of both fetal undernutrition and genetic factors.
  • Early life insulin levels may be predictive of future metabolic health outcomes.
Abstract

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