Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

27.1K

Cardiometabolic health in adults born with very low birth weight-a sibling study

Nina Kaseva1, Juho Kuula2,3, Samuel Sandboge2,4

  • 1Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. nina.kaseva@fimnet.fi.

Pediatric Research
|September 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Adults born at very low birth weight (VLBW) face higher risks for impaired glucose regulation and fatty acid metabolism compared to their siblings. Shared familial factors may explain some cardiometabolic differences.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Neonatology

Background:

  • Individuals born preterm with very low birth weight (VLBW) exhibit an elevated risk for impaired cardiometabolic health in adulthood.
  • This study investigates glucose regulation and cardiometabolic biomarkers in adult VLBW survivors, utilizing full siblings as controls to account for shared genetic and environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess and compare glucose metabolism and cardiometabolic biomarkers between adult very low birth weight survivors and their term-born siblings.
  • To identify potential familial or environmental influences on cardiometabolic health disparities in VLBW individuals.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 74 very low birth weight (VLBW) adults was matched with 70 term-born, same-sex siblings.
  • Participants underwent a 2-hour, 75g oral glucose tolerance test and blood tests for cardiometabolic biomarker assessment at a mean age of 29.2 years.

Main Results:

  • 31% of VLBW adults and 16% of siblings met criteria for impaired glucose regulation (OR 2.5).
  • VLBW participants demonstrated significantly higher 2-hour glucose levels and free fatty acid concentrations compared to siblings, even after adjusting for confounders.
  • No significant differences were observed in insulin resistance, lipid profiles, or liver function tests between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • Adults born at very low birth weight exhibit poorer glucose regulation and fatty acid metabolism compared to their siblings.
  • Observed differences in cardiometabolic biomarkers were less pronounced than in prior studies, suggesting shared familial, genetic, or environmental factors play a role.
  • Impaired glucose regulation in VLBW adults appears independent of current body mass index, highlighting the lasting impact of prematurity.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome06:04

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Published on: September 27, 2024

934
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

453

Related Concept Videos

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers01:20

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers

Cardiac biomarkers are enzymes, proteins, and hormones released into the blood when cardiac cells are injured. They are powerful tools for triaging.
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
185
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.3K
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
179
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
523
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
2.5K
Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation01:24

Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation

During the initial hours of fasting, the body uses up its glycogen stores as an energy source. Once these glycogen reserves are depleted, the body begins breaking down stored triglycerides and structural proteins. During this stage, glycerol becomes a key substrate for gluconeogenesis, while free fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation to provide energy for tissues, such as skeletal muscle. In the fasting state, the body spares protein breakdown as much as possible to conserve muscle and structural...
1.5K