Early malnutrition and metabolic abnormalities later in life

Early malnutrition has been significantly associated with chronic diseases later in life. The finding of metabolic abnormalities in individuals with malnutrition in fetal life and early in postnatal life may have important public health implications in developing countries, although only a few studies have examined the relationship between body weight at the first year of life and later metabolic abnormalities. We assessed the effects of malnutrition during the first year of life (independent of birth weight) on several metabolic parameters in young men. The areas under the curves of glucose and insulin were significantly higher in 52 individuals with a history of malnutrition during the first year of life (cases) than in controls. An insulin sensitivity index was derived and was lower in cases than in controls. In cases, the insulin sensitivity index worsened as body mass index (BMI) increased within the normal range of BMI. A euglycemic insulin clamp as well as an abdominal CT scan were performed in 26 cases and 27 controls. Higher levels of abdominal adipose tissue were more detrimental to insulin sensitivity in previously malnourished individuals. This study suggests that metabolic programming early in life is not restricted to intrauterine growth. We conclude that early malnutrition in extrauterine life independent of birth weight has an adverse effect on insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, and lipid profile in young men. This appears to worsen as body mass index increases, even within "normal" limits.