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Shortness at birth is associated with insulin resistance in pre-pubertal Jamaican children

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 56, pages 506–511 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the relationship between anthropometry at birth and glucose/insulin metabolism in childhood using the response to an oral glucose challenge.

Method: Four hundred mother/child pairs on whom gestational and birth data were available were studied. After an overnight fast, anthropometric measurements were made on the children and an oral glucose tolerance test performed. The plasma concentrations of insulin, pro-insulin and 32–33 split pro-insulin were also measured. Skinfold thicknesses were used to calculate percentage body fat and fat mass was derived from the percentage fat and absolute weight.

Results: The mean age of the children was 8 y (range 7.5–10.5), and six exhibited impaired glucose tolerance based on WHO criteria. Insulin concentration 120 min after the oral glucose load (a measure of insulin resistance) was inversely related to length at birth (P<0.005). The children who were in the shortest quartile at birth and were heaviest at 8 y old had the highest insulin concentration.

Conclusion: Shortness at birth is related to insulin resistance. Such insensitivity to the action of insulin is greater in heavier children.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a grant from the Medical Research Council of Great Britain. We thank Ms Vanessa Cummings and Nurse Paulette Larmond for their care and patience with the children.

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Author notes

  1. T Forrester: Guarantors: T Forrester.

  2. F Bennett, C Watson-Brown, M Thame, R Wilks, C Osmond, N Hales, D Barker and T Forrester: Contributors: FB contributed to the design of the study and the collection, analysis and presentation of data. He was principally responsible for the blood glucose assays. CNH performed the insulin assays. CW-B assisted with logistical coordination of the study, the making of all measurements and collection of blood. She also contributed to data analysis and manuscript preparation. MT assisted in logistics, measurement, data analysis and manuscript preparation. CO assisted with study design and took the lead in data analysis. He also contributed to manuscript preparation. DB and NH both participated in study design and manuscript preparation. TF conceived the study, was lead author for the grant to fund the study and supervised all aspects of the study including logistics, data collection, data analysis and manuscript preparation.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, Jamaica

    F Bennett, C Watson-Brown, M Thame, R Wilks & T Forrester

  2. MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK

    C Osmond

  3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    N Hales & D Barker

Authors
  1. F Bennett
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  2. C Watson-Brown
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  3. M Thame
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  5. C Osmond
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  6. N Hales
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  7. D Barker
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  8. T Forrester
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Correspondence to T Forrester.

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Bennett, F., Watson-Brown, C., Thame, M. et al. Shortness at birth is associated with insulin resistance in pre-pubertal Jamaican children. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 506–511 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601339

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601339

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