Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Laser Doppler: A Tool for Measuring Pancreatic Islet Microvascular Vasomotion In Vivo
Published on: March 8, 2018
Birth Weight, Cardiovascular Health, and Microvascular Complications in Individuals with Diabetes Mellitus
Chaolun Yu1, Anping Feng2, Xia Zou2
1Department of Endocrinology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Insights
Low birth weight increases the risk of diabetic nephropathy. However, maintaining good cardiovascular health (CVH) can reduce this risk, mitigating the impact of early-life factors on diabetes complications.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Public Health
- Genetics
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus frequently causes microvascular complications, including nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy.
- Early-life factors (e.g., birth weight) and modifiable behaviors (e.g., cardiovascular health [CVH]) are critical for preventing these complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the independent and joint associations of birth weight and CVH with the risk of microvascular complications in individuals with diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized UK Biobank data from 11,515 diabetic participants without baseline microvascular complications.
- Assessed CVH using the Life's Essential 8 score.
- Employed Cox proportional hazard models and Mendelian randomization analyses to evaluate associations.
Main Results:
- Low birth weight (<2.5 kg) was linked to a 15% increased risk of diabetic nephropathy.
- High cardiovascular health was associated with reduced microvascular complication risk, irrespective of birth weight.
- Mendelian randomization confirmed the association between low birth weight and nephropathy.
Conclusions:
- Low birth weight is an independent risk factor for nephropathy in diabetic patients.
- Improving cardiovascular health can potentially mitigate the adverse effects of low birth weight on diabetic complications.
Backgruound:
Diabetes often leads to microvascular complications, including nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Understanding the impact of early-life factors like birth weight and modifiable behaviors such as cardiovascular health (CVH) is essential for preventing these complications.
Methods:
We included 11,515 participants with diabetes but without microvascular complications at baseline from the UK Biobank Study. CVH was evaluated using the Life's Essential 8 score. Independent and joint associations of birth weight and CVH with microvascular complications were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses estimated unconfounded associations between birth weight and microvascular complications.
Results:
Over a median follow-up of 13.1 years, 3,010 microvascular complications occurred. Compared with normal birth weight (2.5-4.0 kg), low birth weight (LBW; <2.5 kg) was associated with 15% higher risk of diabetic nephropathy (hazard ratio [HR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.31), but not with neuropathy and retinopathy. High birth weight (>4.0 kg) was not associated with the risk of diabetic microvascular complications. MR analysis confirmed the association between LBW and nephropathy. Adherence to high CVH was associated with a reduced risk of microvascular complications compared to low CVH, regardless of birth weight. The HRs were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.84) for the LBW group and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.68 to 0.80) for the group with birth weight ≥2.5 kg (P for interaction=0.69).
Conclusion:
LBW was an independent risk factor for nephropathy among diabetic patients. However, the detrimental effects of LBW might be mitigated by improvement in CVH.
More Related Videos
08:22Combined Intravital Microscopy and Contrast-enhanced Ultrasonography of the Mouse Hindlimb to Study Insulin-induced Vasodilation and Muscle Perfusion
Published on: March 20, 2017
04:36Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression
Published on: January 12, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:15Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
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,...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
01:30Coronary Artery Disease 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...
01:36Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...