J Korean Soc Pediatr Endocrinol.  2007 Jun;12(1):55-62.

The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents Born Small for Gestational Age

• Park HK
• Kim MJ
• Kim YH
• Jung JA
• Yang S
• Hwang IT
• Lee HR
• Kim JS

Abstract

PURPOSE: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, called metabolic syndrome (MS), occur more frequently among individuals who were born small for gestational age (SGA). SGA children with catch-up growth in height and high BMI are the most insulin resistant. We investigated the prevalence of MS and evaluated the risk factors affecting the development of MS in children and adolescents born SGA.
METHODS
The study population (n=65) were born less than 10th percentile in body weight for their gestational age and the body weights of the control group (n=34) were more than 10th percentile at birth. The SGA and control subjects divided into prepubertal and pubertal groups. We measured serum lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol), fasting sugar levels and insulin levels. Insulin resistance was determined by homeostasis model assessment, fasting insulin glucose ratio and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index.
RESULTS
Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the pubertal SGA group than in the control group (113.2+/-0.3 vs. 98.7+/-6.4, P=0.001). The prevalence of high triglyceride and high fasting glucose levels were significantly increased in pubertal SGA group than prepubertal SGA group (P<0.05). Insulin resistance was correlated to systolic blood pressure, triglyceride levels, HDL-cholesterol levels, fasting glucose, insulin levels at fasting and 2 hours after oral glucose tolerance test and body fat mass in SGA group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
We suggest that the monitoring of these risk factors including systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol levels and body fat mass is important for the prevention of MS in children and adolescents born SGA.

Keyword

SGA; Metabolic syndrome; Insulin resistance

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Adolescent*
Blood Pressure
Body Weight
Cardiovascular Diseases
Child*
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Dyslipidemias
Fasting
Gestational Age*
Glucose
Glucose Tolerance Test
Homeostasis
Humans
Hypertension
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Parturition
Prevalence*
Risk Factors
Triglycerides
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, HDL
Glucose
Insulin