Abstract
Background: The low birth weight has been reported to be associated with the development of premature atherosclerosis and increased risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess the role of birth weight on metabolic profile in childhood.
Methods: Plasma total cholesterol (t-CHOL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TRG), apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), apolipoprotein E (Apo E), lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], fasting glucose (Glc) and insulin (Ins) were measured in 172 Greek children aged 3 to 10 years old, born small-for-gestational age (SGA, n= 28), large-for-gestational age (LGA, n= 43) and appropriate-for-gestational age (AGE, n= 101). Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and waist circumference were measured.
Results: There were no significant differences in plasma t-CHOL, HDL-C, LDL-C, TRG, Apo A-1, Apo B, Apo E and fasting Ins between the three groups. Children born LGA, with birth weight397th percentile for age and gender had lower Lp(a) levels than AGA (p= 0.01) and SGA with birth weight<3th percentile for age and gender (p≤0.05), according to Kruscal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test for Lp(a). Also, children born SGA had lower Glc levels than AGA (p<0.05) and LGA (p= 0.001). BMI (p< 0.01) and waist circumference (p< 0,0001) were lower in children born SGA (p< 0.01) than AGA. In children born LGA, there was a negative correlation between Apo E levels and BMI (p< 0.05), waist circumference (p£0.05) and body weight at the time of the examination (p< 0.05), (Spearman correlation test). In children born SGA, there was a significant positive correlation between Glc levels and body weight (p< 0.01), height (p< 0.01) and waist circumference (p< 0.01) at the time of the examination. Lp(a) levels were correlated positively with height (p< 0.05) in children born SGA.
Conclusion: Birth weight might not affect considerably the examined metabolic parameters in Greek children with exception to Lp(a) and Glc levels
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Evagelidou, E., Bairaktari, E., Kiortsis, D. et al. 80 Body Size at Birth, Blood Pressure and Metabolic Profile in Greek Children Aged 3 to 10 Years. Pediatr Res 56, 477 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00103
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00103