ABSTRACT
Glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity in preadolescent children might predict the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in adult life in small for gestational age [SGA] children. We aimed to investigate whether reduced birthweight is related to low insulin sensitivity in preadolescence. Twenty-five SGA children and 29 appropriate for gestational age children [AGA] children born between 1993 and 1994 were evaluated for insulin sensitivity in preadolescence. At the beginning of the study, body mass index [BMI] was calculated and an oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] was performed. Blood samples to measure glucose and insulin were taken every 30 minutes during OGTT. Homeostasis of model assessment-insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] and composite index [Cl] values were measured to assess insulin sensitivity. On the OGTT, 120-minute glucose and insulin levels were higher in SGA than AGA children [P=0.02 and P=0.001, respectively]. Although there was no difference between HOMA-IR values, the mean Cl value was lower in SGA than AGA children [P=0.001]. There was an inverse correlation between birthweight and 120-minute glucose concentrations [r=-0.30, P=0.02]. This correlation was stronger between birthweight and 120-minute insulin concentrations [r=-0.50, P=0.001] BMI was positively correlated with 120-minute insulin [r=0.50, P=0.001] There was no relationship between HOMA-IR values and birth size, but the Cl index was positively correlated with birthweight [r=0.40, P=0.002]. Birthweight may be a predictive factor for insulin sensitivity and Cl is more reliable than HOMA-IR to assess this sensitivity in preadolescence