CONTEXT: Among people born at term, low birth weight is associated with early puberty. Early maturation may be on the pathway linking low birth weight with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Subjects born preterm with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) have as adults increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Little is known about their pubertal timing. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the investigation was to study the timing of pubertal growth in subjects born preterm with VLBW as compared with controls. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A follow-up study of subjects born preterm including 188 VLBW and 190 term-born control subjects. Growth data were available for 128 VLBW and 147 control subjects, of whom we excluded 15 and 1, respectively, because of neurological impairment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Timing of pubertal growth spurt was estimated by assessing the ages, corrected for gestational age at birth, at acceleration (take-off) and peak height velocity of pubertal growth, and age at attaining adult height. RESULTS: All components of pubertal growth occurred earlier in VLBW subjects than in controls. Age at take-off was 0.8 yr earlier [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-1.3] in VLBW subjects born appropriate and 0.9 yr earlier (95% CI 0.4-1.5) in those born small for gestational age. VLBW subjects were more likely to have a pubertal growth spurt that was at least 2 yr earlier than population average [odds ratio 3.8 (95% CI: 1.5-9.6)]. CONCLUSIONS: Prematurity per se is associated with advanced pubertal growth. Advanced puberty may be among the factors mediating adult metabolic outcomes in subjects born preterm with VLBW.
CONTEXT: Among people born at term, low birth weight is associated with early puberty. Early maturation may be on the pathway linking low birth weight with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Subjects born preterm with very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) have as adults increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Little is known about their pubertal timing. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the investigation was to study the timing of pubertal growth in subjects born preterm with VLBW as compared with controls. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A follow-up study of subjects born preterm including 188 VLBW and 190 term-born control subjects. Growth data were available for 128 VLBW and 147 control subjects, of whom we excluded 15 and 1, respectively, because of neurological impairment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Timing of pubertal growth spurt was estimated by assessing the ages, corrected for gestational age at birth, at acceleration (take-off) and peak height velocity of pubertal growth, and age at attaining adult height. RESULTS: All components of pubertal growth occurred earlier in VLBW subjects than in controls. Age at take-off was 0.8 yr earlier [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-1.3] in VLBW subjects born appropriate and 0.9 yr earlier (95% CI 0.4-1.5) in those born small for gestational age. VLBW subjects were more likely to have a pubertal growth spurt that was at least 2 yr earlier than population average [odds ratio 3.8 (95% CI: 1.5-9.6)]. CONCLUSIONS: Prematurity per se is associated with advanced pubertal growth. Advanced puberty may be among the factors mediating adult metabolic outcomes in subjects born preterm with VLBW.
Authors: Martijn J J Finken; Bibian van der Voorn; Jonneke J Hollanders; Charlotte A Ruys; Marita de Waard; Johannes B van Goudoever; Joost Rotteveel Journal: Ann Nutr Metab Date: 2017-03-17 Impact factor: 3.374
Authors: Carol A Van Hulle; Mollie N Moore; Elizabeth A Shirtcliff; Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant; H Hill Goldsmith Journal: Behav Genet Date: 2015-01-31 Impact factor: 2.805
Authors: Timothy P York; Lindon J Eaves; Paul Lichtenstein; Michael C Neale; Anna Svensson; Shawn Latendresse; Niklas Långström; Jerome F Strauss Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2013-04-07 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Jia Zhu; Henry A Feldman; Christine Chordas; Ari J Wassner; Peter E Manley; Laurie E Cohen Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2020-10-01 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Christine Wohlfahrt-Veje; Jeanette Tinggaard; Anders Juul; Jorma Toppari; Niels E Skakkebæk; Katharina M Main Journal: J Endocr Soc Date: 2021-06-10