High birthweight was not associated with altered body composition or impaired glucose tolerance in adulthood.

Abstract

To investigate whether a high birthweight was associated with an increased proportion of body fat or with impaired glucose tolerance in adulthood. Our cohort comprised 27 subjects with birthweights of 4500g or more, and 27 controls with birthweights within ±1 standard deviation scores, born at Uppsala University Hospital 1975-1979. The subjects were 34-40years old at the time of study. Anthropometric data was collected, and data on body composition was obtained by air plethysmography and bioimpedance and was estimated with a three-compartment model. Indirect calorimetry, blood sampling for fasting insulin and glucose as well as a 75g oral glucose tolerance test were also performed. Insulin sensitivity was assessed using homoeostasis model assessment 2 and Matsuda index. There were no differences in body mass index, body composition or insulin sensitivity between subjects with a high birthweight and controls. In this cohort of adult subjects, although limited in size, those born with a moderately high birthweight did not differ from those with birthweights within ±1 standard deviation scores, regarding body composition or glucose tolerance.