Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
White and Brown Adipose Grafts: An Approach to Correct Reproductive, Metabolic, and Renal Deficits in Black and Tan Brachyury (BTBR) Obese Mice
Published on: September 9, 2025
Does gender-specific BMI development modulate insulin sensitivity in extremely low birth weight infants?
Bettina C Gohlke1, Sonja Stutte, Peter Bartmann
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. bettina-gohlke@t-online.de
Insights
Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neonatalogy
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Survival rates for extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are increasing.
- Understanding long-term metabolic outcomes in ELBW survivors is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of birth weight, gender, and catch-up growth on metabolic parameters in ELBW children.
- To identify early markers of metabolic health in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 63 ELBW children was assessed at a mean age of 5.8 years.
- Growth parameters, including height and body mass index (BMI), were evaluated.
- Metabolic markers such as insulin, glucose, IGF-I, and IGFBP-1/3 were measured.
Main Results:
- Children who were small for gestational age (SGA) were shorter and had lower IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels.
- Catch-up growth was associated with lower IGFBP-1 concentrations.
- Gender influenced weight development, with girls normalizing BMI earlier than boys, and girls exhibiting lower IGFBP-1 levels.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic parameters in ELBW children are significantly influenced by catch-up growth and sex-specific weight trajectories.
- These factors lead to measurable metabolic differences in early childhood.
- Early identification of growth patterns can inform interventions for metabolic health in ELBW survivors.
Background:
Increasing numbers of extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW, birth weight < 1,000 g) survive. We studied the impact of birth weight, gender, and catch-up growth on metabolic parameters in ELBW infants.
Children:
Sixty-three ELBW children were investigated at a mean age of 5.8 years. Forty-eight showed catch-up growth.
Results:
ELBW children who were small for gestational age were significantly shorter than those whose size was appropriate for their gestational age (height SDS: -1.1 [SD 0.8] vs -0.4 [0.9]; p < 0.001). This corresponded with significantly lower standard deviation scores for IGF-I (-1.1 [1.3] vs 0.1 [0.8]; p < 0.05) and IGFBP-3 (-0.7 [1.7] vs 0.4 [1.1]; p < 0.05). No differences were found regarding fasting insulin, glucose, HOMA and IGFBP-1. The catch-up group showed lower IGFBP-1 concentrations than the non-catch-up group. IGFBP-1 decreased in individuals who became more insulin resistant. No differences were found regarding mean IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 SDS. A gender-related pattern was found for weight development: girls demonstrated a normalization of BMI from the age of 2 years whereas boys remained at a mean BMI of -1.96 SDS. Corresponding to this, girls showed lower IGFBP-1 levels than boys.
Conclusion:
Metabolic parameters in ELBW children are modulated by subsequent catch-up growth and sex-dependent weight development, resulting in measurable differences even in early childhood.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
01:16Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
01:24Obesity
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
01:26Type II Diabetes I: Introduction
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...