Placental expression of microRNAs in infants born small for gestational age.

INTRODUCTION: The molecular mechanisms behind poor foetal growth are not fully known. The aim of this study was to explore global microRNA expression in placentas of infants born small for gestational age (SGA) compared to infants with a normal birth weight (NBW). METHODS: Placental biopsies from term infants were identified in a biobank and divided into four groups: infants born SGA with (n = 13) or without (n = 9) exposure to low maternal gestational weight gain (GWG) and infants born with NBWs with (n = 20) or without (n = 26) exposure to low GWG. All women and infants were healthy, and no woman smoked during pregnancy. Only vaginal deliveries were included. Next-generation sequencing was performed with single read sequencing of >9 million reads per sample. Differential microRNA expression was analysed using ANOVA for unequal variances (Welch) with multiple testing corrections through the Benjamini-Hochberg method. A fold change >2 and a corrected p value < 0.05 were considered significant. Adjustments for possible confounding factors were made using a linear regression model. RESULTS: A total of 1870 known, mature human microRNAs were detected in the sample. MiR-3679-5p and miR-193b-3p were significantly upregulated, and miR-379-3p, miR-335-3p, miR-4532, miR-519e-3p, miR-3065-5p, and miR-105-5p were significantly downregulated after adjustment for potential confounding factors in SGA infants with normal GWG compared to infants with NBWs and normal GWG. DISCUSSION: Infants born unexplained SGA show differential microRNA expression in their placenta. Important pathways for the differentially expressed microRNAs include inflammation and the insulin-IGF system.

Effects of fat supplementation on postprandial GIP, GLP-1, ghrelin and IGFBP-1 levels: a pilot study on adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: To compare the responses of GIP, GLP-1, ghrelin and IGFBP-1 between meals with different fat and energy content in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and to relate them to gastric emptying and glycaemia. METHODS: On different days and in a random order, 7 adolescents with T1DM ingested a high- and low-fat meal (fat content: 38 and 2 g, energy content: 640 and 320 kcal, respectively). At normoglycaemia, the same prandial insulin dose was given at both meals and to all subjects. Postprandial blood samples were taken repeatedly over 4 hours. Gastric emptying was estimated by the paracetamol absorption method. RESULTS: The area under the curve (AUC) for GIP(0-240 min) and for GLP-1(0-120 min) was larger, but smaller for relative ghrelin(0-240 min), after the high-fat meal (p = 0.002, 0.030 and 0.043, respectively). IGFBP-1 decreased significantly, but not differently, after the meals. Larger GLP-1 secretion correlated with slower gastric emptying (p = 0.029) and higher fasting ghrelin levels correlated with lower postprandial glycaemia (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: In adolescents with T1DM, the postprandial responses of GIP, GLP-1 and ghrelin, but not that of IGFBP-1, depend more on meal size than on insulin.

Effects of fat supplementation on glycaemic response and gastric emptying in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: To compare the glycaemic response to meals with different fat content in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and to investigate associations with gastric emptying. METHODS: In this randomized, cross-over study, paired results were obtained from seven adolescents with T1DM who ingested on different days two meals with the same carbohydrate and protein content, but different fat and energy content (2 and 38 g fat, 320 and 640 kcal, respectively). Paracetamol was mixed into the meals and gastric emptying was estimated by the paracetamol absorption method. All subjects were normoglycaemic and given 7 IU insulin aspart at commencement of ingestion. Postprandial blood samples were taken during 4 h. RESULTS: The areas under the curves for plasma glucose and serum paracetamol concentrations were larger after the low-fat than after the high-fat meal during the first 2 h (P = 0.047 and P = 0.041, respectively). The difference between meals in time-to-peak in glucose and paracetamol concentrations did not reach statistical significance (high-fat vs. low-fat meal: 210 min (120-240) vs. 120 min (50-240), P = 0.080 and 120 min (75-180) vs. 60 min (60-120), P = 0.051, respectively). Changes in glucose concentrations correlated with simultaneous changes in paracetamol concentrations (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, we have shown that the initial glycaemic response is reduced after a meal with higher compared with a meal with lower fat content in adolescents with T1DM given a rapid-acting insulin analogue preprandially. The type and dose of preprandial insulin may need adjustment to the fat content of the meal to reach postprandial normoglycaemia.

Food habits, energy and nutrient intake in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: The aims were to describe the food habits of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (Type 1 DM) and to compare them with healthy control subjects; to describe the distribution of energy-providing nutrients in patients and compare it with current recommendations and previous reports; and finally, to investigate associations between dietary intake and glycaemic control. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-four adolescents with Type 1 DM and 160 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects completed a validated food frequency questionnaire, and 38 randomly chosen patients completed a prospective 4-day food record. RESULTS: Patients ate more regularly, and more often ate fruit and fruit juice, potatoes and root vegetables, meat, fish, egg, offal and sugar-free sweets than control subjects. Control subjects more often ate ordinary sweets and snacks. Patients chose coarse rye bread and dairy products with less fat to a greater extent than control subjects. Patients were heavier than control subjects. The intake of saturated fat was higher in patients compared with recommendations and, for boys with diabetes, the intake of protein was higher than recommended. Patients with poorer glycaemic control ate vegetables, fruit and fish less often than patients with better control. CONCLUSIONS: The food habits of adolescents with Type 1 DM were healthier than those of control subjects. The intake of energy-providing nutrients was in line with current recommendations and showed improvements compared with previous reports, with the exception of fibre intake. The association between dietary intake and glycaemic control needs further investigation in prospective studies.