Relation of Birth Weight to Fasting Insulin, Insulin Resistance, and Body Size in Adolescence

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—A relationship between birth weight and the insulin resistance syndrome has been reported in adults but has not been defined in adolescents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Data were analyzed in 296 children (132 girls and 164 boys) mean age 15.0 ± 1.2 years who had euglycemic insulin clamp studies (intravenous administration of 1 mU · kg^–1 · min^–1 of insulin balanced by a variable infusion of 20% glucose to maintain blood glucose at 100 mg/dl). Insulin sensitivity (M_LBM) was determined by glucose uptake per kg lean body mass (LBM), and parents reported birth weight. RESULTS—Birth weight ranged from 1,021 to 4,848 g (mean ± SD 3,433 ± 551), with 4.0% P = 0.008). Although M_LBM was highest in the highest birth weight quartile, the pattern was not significant. Triglycerides tended to increase with birth weight, whereas LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) tended to decrease. Blood pressure was unrelated to birth weight. CONCLUSIONS—In this cohort, fat mass was greater in adolescents with low and high birth weight; fasting insulin was lower with higher birth weight after adjustment for adolescent weight. Insulin sensitivity increased nonsignificantly with birth weight.