Abstract
Macrosomia and increased adiposity are well-recognized sequelae in newborn infants of diabetic mothers. However, the long-term consequences of such alterations remain controversial. In order to prospectively evaluate these factors, 23 infants of gestaional diabetic mothers, IGDMs,(mean birthweight 3.6kg.), 8 infants of Class B and C insulin-dependent diabetic mothers, IDMS, (mean birthweight 3.2kg.) and 11 control infants (mean birth-weight 3.1kg.) have been studied sequentially over the past 9-10 years. Increased numbers of adipose tissue cells were found in the IGDMs as early as age one (mean 6.2 × 109 total adipocytes) and have persisted to date with mean values of 19.8 × 109 adipocytes, 52% greater than normal, at age 6.8 years and 28.4 × 109 at age 9.4 years. Concomitantly, obesity (greater than 130% ideal body weight for height and age) was found in only 3 infants at age one but in 19 IGDMs by ages 6-9. In the IDM group at age one, no infants were obese, but by age 7, six had become obese having a mean of 18.6 × 109 total adipocytes. Adipose cell size was increased above 0.50 ug lipid/cell in both IGDMs and IDMs by age 6. Normal weight children were born only to mothers of normal weight prior to pregnancy. In vitro studies of adipocyte metabolism revealed blunting of epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis beginning as early as age one month and persisting to date in all obese children. The data indicate the importance of in utero factors in the development of childhood obesity.
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Ginsberg-Fellner, F., Gorkin, J., Knittle, J. et al. 241 ADIPOSE TISSUE DEVELOPMENT IN OFFSPRING OF DIABETIC MOTHERS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 480 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00251
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00251