Birth weight, current body mass index, and insulin sensitivity and secretion in young adults in two Latin American populations

Abstract

Background and aimsAlthough studies have shown association of birth weight (BW) and adult body mass index (BMI) with insulin sensitivity in adults, there is limited evidence that BW is associated with insulin secretion. We assessed the associations between BW and current BMI with insulin sensitivity and secretion in young Latin American adults. Methods and resultsTwo birth cohorts, one from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, based on 1984 participants aged 23–25 years, and another from Limache, Chile, based on 965 participants aged 22–28 years were studied. Weight and height at birth, and current fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were measured. Insulin sensitivity (HOMA%S) and secretion (HOMA%β) were estimated using the Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA2). Multiple linear regression analyses were carried out to test the associations between BW and adult BMI z-scores on log HOMA%S and log HOMA%β. BW z-score was associated with HOMA%S in the two populations and HOMA%β in Ribeirao Preto when adult BMI z-score was included in the model. BW z-score was associated with decreasing insulin secretion even without adjusting for adult BMI, but only in Ribeirao Preto. BMI z-score was associated with low HOMA%S and high HOMA%β. No interactions between BW and BMI z-scores on insulin sensitivity were shown. ConclusionsThis study supports the finding that BW may affect insulin sensitivity and secretion in young adults. The effect size of BW on insulin status is small in comparison to current BMI.