Abdominal fat partitioning and high-molecular-weight adiponectin in short children born small for gestational age

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Metabolic Health
• Growth Disorders

Background:

• Children born small for gestational age (SGA) often experience metabolic changes post-catch-up growth, including hyperinsulinemia and increased visceral fat.
• Limited data exists on SGA children who do not spontaneously achieve catch-up growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the metabolic and body composition profiles of SGA children who failed to achieve spontaneous catch-up growth.
• To compare these profiles with appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) children and SGA children who achieved catch-up growth.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study comparing three groups: short SGA children, AGA children, and catch-up SGA children.
• Measurements included fasting glucose, insulin, IGF-I, high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin, body composition (absorptiometry), and abdominal fat distribution (MRI).

Main Results:

• Short SGA children displayed significantly higher insulin sensitivity and lower IGF-I levels compared to both AGA and catch-up SGA groups.
• These children had reduced subcutaneous (sc) abdominal fat and a markedly elevated visceral to sc fat ratio, despite a normal amount of visceral fat.
• Circulating HMW adiponectin levels were high-normal in short SGA children, contrasting with expected lower levels.

Conclusions:

• Short SGA children without catch-up growth exhibit a distinct metabolic and body composition phenotype characterized by insulin hypersensitivity and altered abdominal fat partitioning.
• This phenotype differs significantly from SGA children who achieve catch-up growth.
• The potential impact of growth hormone therapy on these specific features warrants further investigation.