The Relationship between Birth Weight and Serum Insulin in Obese Children.

Abstract

To reveal the relationship between birth weight and type II diabetes mellitus (DM) in obese children. Obese children (128 boys and 52 girls) with a mean age of 10.3 years were examined. The mean percent relative weight was 48.3% in boys, and 53.7% in girls. The fasting serum level of insulin and fasting plasma glucose were measured, and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was calculated. Maternity record books were used to determine the weeks of gestation and the standard deviation score (SDS) for birth weight was calculated. The relation between insulin and HOMA, and birth weight and birth weight SDS were analyzed by simple regression. In boys, no relationship was found between serum insulin and birth weight. HOMA showed a negative correlation with birth weight SDS (r=-0.175, p<0.05). In girls, serum insulin showed a negative correlation with birth weight and birth weight SDS (r=-0.287, p<0.05, r=-0.316, p<0.05). HOMA showed a negative correlation with birth weight and birth weight SDS (r=-0.289, p<0.05, r=-0.315, p<0.05). Also, percent relative weight showed a negative correlation with birth weight and birth weight SDS (r=-0.301, p<0.05, r=-0.307, p<0.05). This study suggested a relationship between low birth weight and hyperinsulinemia. Fetal malnutrition in utero may lead to insulin resistance. We consider that low birth weight is one of the risk factors for type II DM in obese children.

Lower Birth Weight and Visceral Fat Accumulation Are Related to Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance in Obese Japanese Children

“…In children and adolescents from different countries, a relationship between birth weight and both insulin resistance and type 2 DM has been reported (17−20). And in our previous studies, we reported that there was an association between birth weight and blood pressure (BP) in healthy children (21), and between birth weight and insulin resistance or hyperinsulinemia in obese boys (22).…”

Physique at Birth and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Japanese Urban Residents: the KOBE Study

“…Their findings also suggested a high prevalence of diabetes in the "small" birth weight group for women (17.8%), which was higher than those in the "medium" (2.9%) and the birth weight recorded in the maternal and child health handbooks and other related content provided by some participants; and the sub-group analysis with objective birth weight almost showed similar results. Previous studies conducted in Japan have indicated associations between birth weight and adverse conditions such as diabetes and hypertension [34][35][36][37][38][39][40] . However, few epidemiologic studies have targeted middle-aged populations because most reports have focused on individuals during their childhood or young adulthood.…”

Epidemiological Studies of the Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease in Japan: A Pediatric Perspective in Present Day Japan

“…We investigated the association of birth weight with metabolic derangements in obese children in Niigata, Japan (8,9,10,11). We reported the relationships of birth weight and current visceral fat accumulation with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in 967 obese Japanese children and adolescents (650 boys, 317 girls) aged 6 to 15 yr (9).…”