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Differentiated Mouse Adipocytes in Primary Culture: A Model of Insulin Resistance
Published on: February 17, 2023
Thin newborns are more insulin resistant at 10 years of age
A Larnkjær1, H K Ingstrup, L Schack-Nielsen
1Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. ala@life.ku.dk
Insights
Relative thinness at birth is linked to higher insulin resistance in childhood. Birth weight and early weight gain were not associated with insulin resistance in this study. Keywords: childhood insulin resistance, ponderal index, birth weight.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Insulin resistance in childhood is a growing concern.
- Understanding early life predictors of metabolic health is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between ponderal index and birth weight with insulin resistance in late childhood.
- To identify early life factors influencing metabolic health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of 92 appropriate-for-gestational age infants.
- Measurements included birth weight, ponderal index, and follow-up at 10 years for BMI, insulin, and glucose.
- Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was used to measure insulin resistance.
Main Results:
- Lower ponderal index at birth was negatively associated with insulin resistance (HOMA) at age 10.
- Higher current Body Mass Index (BMI) was positively associated with HOMA.
- Neither birth weight nor weight gain from 0-9 months correlated with HOMA when adjusted for current BMI.
Conclusions:
- Relative thinness at birth, indicated by ponderal index, is associated with increased insulin resistance in late childhood.
- Birth weight and early weight gain were not significant predictors of childhood insulin resistance in this cohort.
- Findings highlight the importance of early anthropometric measures in predicting later metabolic health.
Aims:
To investigate the relation between ponderal index or birth weight and insulin resistance in late childhood.
Methods:
An observational study of 92-term appropriate-for-gestational age infants was carried out. Weight and length were measured at birth and at 9 months and duration of breast feeding was noted at 9 months. Follow-up examinations at 10 years of age included measurement of weight, height, pubertal status, fasting insulin and glucose concentrations.
Results:
Ponderal index at birth was negatively (B±SE=-0.05±0.02; p=0.025) and current BMI was positively (B±SE=0.14±0.02; p<0.001) associated with insulin resistance measured as homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) at 10 years of age adjusted for gender and pubertal stage. Current BMI and ponderal index at birth were still significant after adjusting for weight at 9 months. Birth weight and weight at 9 months was not correlated with HOMA (p=0.58) adjusted for current BMI, gender and pubertal stage. HOMA was higher in the tertile with the lowest ponderal index than in the two remaining tertiles (p=0.024).
Conclusion:
Relative thinness at birth, but neither birth weight nor weight gain from 0-9 months, was associated with higher insulin resistance at 10 years of age in this cohort with a low prevalence of overweight at 10 years of age and normal birth weight.
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