Influence of birthweight and current body mass on cardiovascular risk factors in young adults

Abstract

Introduction. Results of other studies indicate at increased predisposition of metabolic diseases in the adulthood in subjects born with low birthweight. Objectives. To estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in adults in relation to birthweight and current body mass. Patients and methods. The study was performed in 498 subjects aged 24-29 years, born in Warsaw in 1974-1977, whose mothers during pregnancy participated in a prospective study of risk factors of low birthweight. Basic anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were performed; total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, fibrinogen and glycosylated hemoglobin were determined in the blood. Results. 1) In males body mass index (BMI) and indices of abdominal fat distribution (WHR, waist circumference) correlated positively with the insulin resistance index, blood insulin level, glycated hemoglobin, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, fibrinogen and also blood pressure, and negativelely with HDL-cholesterol. In females BMI, WHR and waist circumference correlated significantly only with the insulin resistance index, and blood levels of insulin, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and fibrinogen. 2) In males birthweight correlated negatively only with the insulin resistance index and serum insulin level. In females such correlations were not observed. 3) Logistic regression analysis revealed that obesity, particularly abdominal, was a stronger predictor of increased insulin resistance than birthweight. Conclusions. In young males abdominal obesity is a much stronger determinant of coronary risk factors than birthweight.

Distribution of Glycated Haemoglobin According to Early-Life and Contemporary Characteristics in Adolescents and Adults without Diabetes: The 1982 and 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohorts

“…Low birthweight is known to be related with an adverse glucose and insulin profile in adult life [ 45 ], although, the relationship is less clear regarding HbA 1c . In line with our findings, most of studies did not find any association between birthweight and HbA 1c in children [ 46 ], adolescents [ 36 ] and adults [ 47 ]; while a recent study carried out in English children found a 0.04% increase in HbA 1c for every 100 g of lower birthweight [ 48 ]. The mentioned association appeared after adjustment for current height and became stronger with further adjustment for body fatness, indicating that the association depends on childhood size more than birthweight per se.…”

The Impact of Maternal Preeclampsia and Hyperglycemia on the Cardiovascular Health of the Offspring: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…These findings are partly supportive of those reported by Aceti et al, where there was no significant difference in BP in the unadjusted analysis; however, when adjusted for covariates such as age and gender, systolic BP was higher while there was no difference in diastolic BP in the exposed children. 15 This elevation in BP may be mediated through upregulation of endothelial markers such as E-selectin and vascular adhesion molecule 1, 71 which are known to cause vascular dysfunction, 72 thus leading to elevated BP. In the unadjusted analysis for exposure to preeclampsia, we reported a small (∼2 mm Hg) but significant increase in systolic and diastolic BP.…”

Mechanisms involved in developmental programming of hypertension and renal diseases. Gender differences

“…A previous study in adult male subjects born at term reported an inverse relationship between bithweight and insulin resistance [135]. Fetal undernutrition may also program metabolic disorders because it may reduce glucose uptake and increase gluconeogenesis in the liver, increase lipid peroxidation in the muscles and reduce insulin inhibition of lipolysis in adipose tissue [136]. Moreover, the enhanced risk of metabolic syndrome development in subjects born with IUGR has been associated with an increased cortisol release [137].…”