Abstract
Aims/hypothesis. To test the hypothesis that small size for gestation and poor postnatal growth in preterm infants is associated with higher fasting and post-load plasma glucose and insulin concentrations at 9–12 years of age.¶Methods. Prospective follow-up at 9–12 years of 385 preterm children with birth weight less than 1850 g, who had anthropometry recorded at birth, 18 months and 7 years. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, proinsulin and 32,33 split proinsulin concentrations and glucose and insulin concentrations 30 min after a standard glucose load were measured.¶Results. Post-load glucose concentrations were negatively related to birth weight, independently of gestation or subsequent growth. Fasting split proinsulin and 30-min insulin concentrations were highest in children who showed the greatest increase in weight centile between birth and current follow-up, regardless of gestation. When weight during childhood was included, birthweight centile was, however, no longer statistically significant: concentrations of fasting, split, proinsulin and 30-min insulin were highest in those children who had shown the greatest increase in weight centile between 18 months of age and current follow-up, with no evidence of a greater effect in those who were smallest at 18 months.¶Conclusion/interpretation. Our findings suggest that fetal growth influences plasma glucose 30 min after a glucose load in preterm children at 9–12 years. In contrast, childhood weight gain is the most important factor influencing insulin concentrations and this effect is the same regardless of early size. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 714–717]
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Received: 25 October 1999 and in revised form: 22 February 2000
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Fewtrell, M., Doherty, C., Cole, T. et al. Effects of size at birth, gestational age and early growth in preterm infants on glucose and insulin concentrations at 9–12 years. Diabetologia 43, 714–717 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250051368
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250051368