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Prematurity and programming: are there later metabolic sequelae?

Paul L Hofman1, Fiona Regan, Craig A Jefferies

  • 1Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders
|March 29, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Premature birth is linked to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome risk, similar to term small-for-gestational-age infants. Epigenetic changes may explain this increased risk in preterm children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • Low birth weight is associated with early insulin resistance and later metabolic syndrome.
  • Most research focuses on term low-birth-weight infants, neglecting other groups.
  • Prematurely born children represent a significant low-birth-weight population requiring evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the metabolic profile of prematurely born children.
  • To assess the risk of metabolic syndrome in this population.
  • To explore potential mechanisms, including epigenetic alterations, linking preterm birth to metabolic dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on metabolic profiles of preterm infants.
  • Comparison of metabolic characteristics between preterm and term small-for-gestational-age (SGA) children.
  • Exploration of proposed mechanisms such as epigenetic alterations and hypomethylation.

Main Results:

  • Prematurely born children exhibit a metabolic profile similar to term SGA children.
  • This similarity suggests a potentially comparable increased risk for metabolic syndrome later in life.
  • Epigenetic alterations, particularly hypomethylation, are proposed as key mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • Premature birth may confer a similar metabolic syndrome risk as term SGA.
  • Epigenetic modifications are a plausible pathway for this increased risk.
  • Further research into preterm infants' long-term metabolic health is warranted.

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