Insulin sensitivity in people born pre-term, with low or very low birth weight and small for gestational age

Abstract

Evidence has accumulated that small for gestational age (SGA) children have long-term adult health consequences including obesity, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease and stroke. This increased risk of later adult disease is likely a consequence of an early, persistent reduction in insulin sensitivity. The SGA children and adults studied were predominantly at term gestation, and it appears that prematurity also leads to insulin resistance with possibly similar health consequences for later life. Both term SGA and premature children have an abnormal early environment: one in utero and one post-natally. Parallels are made among those born SGA at term or premature to show the potential importance of maternal factors, the intrauterine milieu, including nutrient supply and intake in fetal and early newborn life. It is possible that manipulation of these factors during early neonatal life in premature babies could lead to normalisation of insulin sensitivity. To confirm this hypothesis, further studies are needed to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to reduced insulin sensitivity and confirm that prematurity is linked with similar long-term health consequences as being born SGA.