Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2024 Feb;29(1):29-37. 10.6065/apem.2346044.022.

Comparison of anthropometric, metabolic, and body compositional abnormalities in Korean children and adolescents born small, appropriate, and large for gestational age: a population-based study from KNHANES V (2010–2011)

• Lee TK
• Kim YM
• Lim HH

• KMID: 2553015
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2346044.022

Abstract

Purpose
The impacts of growth restriction and programming in the fetal stage on metabolic and bone health in children and adolescents are poorly understood. Moreover, there is insufficient evidence for the relationship between current growth status and metabolic components. Herein, we compared the growth status, metabolic and body compositions, and bone mineral density in Korean children and adolescents based on birth weight at gestational age.
Methods
We studied 1,748 subjects (272 small for gestational age [SGA], 1,286 appropriate for gestational age [AGA], and 190 large for gestational age [LGA]; 931 men and 817 women) aged 10–18 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V (2010–2011). Anthropometric measurements, fasting blood biochemistry, and body composition data were analyzed according to birth weight and gestational age.
Results
The prevalence of low birth weight (14.7% vs. 1.2% in AGA and 3.2% in LGA, p<0.001) and current short stature (2.237 [1.296–3.861] compared to AGA, p=0.004) in SGA subjects was greater than that in other groups; however, the prevalence of overweight and obesity risks, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and MetS component abnormalities was not. Moreover, no significant differences were found in age- and sex-adjusted lean mass ratio, fat mass ratio, truncal fat ratio, bone mineral content, or bone density among the SGA, AGA, and LGA groups in Korean children and adolescents.
Conclusion
Our data demonstrate that birth weight alone may not be a determining factor for body composition and bone mass in Korean children and adolescents. Further prospective and longitudinal studies in adults are necessary to confirm the impact of SGA on metabolic components and bone health.

Keyword

Small for gestational age; Obesity; Metabolic syndrome

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Prevalence of growth abnormalities. Comparison of the prevalence of growth abnormalities according to birth weight at gestational age. (A) Current short stature <3rd percentile and <10th percentile for age and sex among the SGA, AGA, and LGA groups. (B) Current underweight status (BMI <10th percentile), overweight status (85th percentile ≤BMI <95th percentile), and obesity (BMI ≥95 percentile) among the SGA, AGA, and LGA groups. Data are represented as mean±standard error of the mean. SGA, small for gestational age; AGA, appropriate for gestational age; LGA, large for gestational age; NS, not significant. *P<0.05, **P<0.01.

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  Fig. 2. Metabolic component abnormalities and metabolic syndrome. Comparison of metabolic component abnormalities and metabolic syndrome in Korean children and adolescents according to birth weight at gestational age. (A1, A2) Metabolic abnormality score and the prevalence of metabolic component abnormality and metabolic syndrome in all subjects. (B1, B2) Metabolic abnormality score and the prevalence of metabolic component abnormality and metabolic syndrome in subjects with overweight and obesity statuses. Metabolic abnormality score: total (5)=central obesity (1) + high TG (1) + low HDL-C (1) + high BP (1) + high FPG (1). Metabolic component abnormalities and metabolic syndrome defined by the IDF and modified NCEP-ATP III for children and adolescents. Data are represented as mean±standard error of the mean. SGA, small for gestational age; AGA, appropriate for gestational age; LGA, large for gestational age; TG, triglyceride; low HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; BP, blood pressure; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; MetS, metabolic syndrome; IDF, International Diabetes Federation; NCEP, National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III); NS, not significant.

Reference

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