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[Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and insulin of prepubertal girls born small for gestational age]

You-zhi Jiang1, Min Zhu, Feng Xiong

  • 1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400014, China. youzhijiang74@yahoo.com.cn

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi = Chinese Journal of Pediatrics
|April 21, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Girls born small for gestational age (SGA) exhibit earlier adrenarche and adrenal hyperandrogenism. While hyperinsulinism is present, insulin resistance was not detected in these prepubertal girls.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Adolescent Health

Context:

  • Low birth weight, specifically being small for gestational age (SGA), is a potential risk factor for later health issues.
  • Understanding the endocrine development in SGA children is crucial for early intervention and management.
  • Prepubertal endocrine changes, including adrenarche, can predict future metabolic and hormonal imbalances.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the association between low birth weight (SGA) and the risk of premature adrenarche, adrenal hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinism, and insulin resistance in prepubertal girls.
  • To determine the onset of adrenarche in SGA infants compared to normal birth weight girls.

Summary:

  • This study compared 39 prepubertal SGA girls with 42 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) girls.
  • SGA girls showed significantly lower birth weight, height, and weight, but similar BMI and glucose levels compared to AGA girls.
  • Fasting insulin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were significantly higher in SGA girls, indicating hyperinsulinism and adrenal hyperandrogenism. Adrenarche tended to occur earlier in SGA girls, but no insulin resistance was observed.

Impact:

  • The findings suggest that SGA is associated with earlier adrenarche and adrenal hyperandrogenism in prepubertal girls.
  • Early adrenarche in SGA girls may signal a need for closer monitoring for potential metabolic disturbances.
  • This research contributes to understanding the long-term endocrine consequences of fetal growth restriction.
Abstract

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