HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Birgisdottir, B. E Articles by Benediktsson, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Birgisdottir, B. E Articles by Benediktsson, R. Agricola Articles by Birgisdottir, B. E Articles by Benediktsson, R.

Size at birth and glucose intolerance in a relatively genetically homogeneous, high–birth weight population^1,2,3

¹ From the Unit for Nutrition Research (BEB, IG, and IT) and the Department of Medicine (RB), Landspitali-University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland; the Department of Food Science (BEB, IG, and IT) and the Faculty of Medicine (RB), University of Iceland, Reykjavík; and The Icelandic Heart Association, Reykjavík (VG and RB).

Background: The results of epidemiologic studies have linked birth size to adult glucose intolerance.

Objective: We investigated this association in a genetically homogeneous population with higher birth weights and a lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes than previously studied.

Design: The subjects were 2362 men and 2286 women aged 33–65 y. Size at birth was obtained from the National Archives of Iceland. Data for adult anthropometry, fasting blood glucose, and blood glucose after an oral glucose load came from the randomized prospective Reykjavík Study.

Results: Postchallenge glucose concentrations were inversely related to birth weight and length in men and inversely related to birth weight and ponderal index in women (P < 0.001). This association was mainly found among those within the highest one-third of adult body mass index values. In men, the prevalence of dysglycemia was lower with increasing weight (P = 0.04) and length (P = 0.003) at birth but there was no relation of dysglycemia to ponderal index. For women, there was no linear trend for dysglycemia in relation to size at birth but the relation with birth length was U shaped.

Conclusions: Greater birth weight and length appear to offer a protective effect against glucose intolerance. Adult overweight or obesity enhances the risk associated with low birth weight and length. Because the population studied has higher birth weights and a lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes than are found in neighboring countries, it is possible that decreasing the number of low–birth weight infants might help to stem the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes worldwide.

Key Words: Newborns • adults • birth weight • body height • blood glucose • type 2 diabetes • impaired glucose tolerance • dysglycemia • Reykjavík Study

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. H. Whincup, S. J. Kaye, C. G. Owen, R. Huxley, D. G. Cook, S. Anazawa, E. Barrett-Connor, S. K. Bhargava, B. E. Birgisdottir, S. Carlsson, et al. Birth Weight and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review JAMA, December 24, 2008; 300(24): 2886 - 2897. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Johannsson, T. Henriksen, and P. O. Iversen Increase in matrix metalloproteinases from endothelial cells exposed to umbilical cord plasma from high birth weight newborns Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2007; 292(4): R1563 - R1568. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Thorsdottir, B. E. Birgisdottir, S. Halldorsdottir, and R. T. Geirsson Association of Fish and Fish Liver Oil Intake in Pregnancy with Infant Size at Birth among Women of Normal Weight before Pregnancy in a Fishing Community Am. J. Epidemiol., September 1, 2004; 160(5): 460 - 465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Conlisk, H. X. Barnhart, R. Martorell, R. Grajeda, and A. D. Stein Maternal and Child Nutritional Supplementation Are Inversely Associated with Fasting Plasma Glucose Concentration in Young Guatemalan Adults J. Nutr., April 1, 2004; 134(4): 890 - 897. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. E Birgisdottir, I. Gunnarsdottir, I. Thorsdottir, V. Gudnason, and R. Benediktsson Reply to ND Willows and K Gray-Donald Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2003; 77(6): 1529 - 1530. [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Gunnarsdottir, B. E Birgisdottir, I. Thorsdottir, V. Gudnason, and R. Benediktsson Size at birth and coronary artery disease in a population with high birth weight Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2002; 76(6): 1290 - 1294. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]