BACKGROUND: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at risk for the metabolic syndrome (MetS) as adults. We examined whether indicators of MetS could be identified in pre-pubertal children born very preterm. METHODS: Parameters associated with MetS were studied in 141 pre-pubertal schoolchildren with either very low birth weight (VLBW) or GA <32 weeks (SGA: n=43). RESULTS: At 8.3±0.8 years, 36 children (SGA: n=15) were classified short. There were no differences between the SGA and appropriate for age (AGA) groups; nor were dissimilarities observed between short children and those with normal height for parameters such as body mass index (BMI), serum levels of hormones, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, body composition, resting energy expenditure, grip strength and jump force. CONCLUSIONS: Neither SGA at birth nor short stature at follow-up (irrespective of size at birth), could be associated with parameters that indicate an increased risk for the MetS during childhood.
BACKGROUND:Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at risk for the metabolic syndrome (MetS) as adults. We examined whether indicators of MetS could be identified in pre-pubertal children born very preterm. METHODS: Parameters associated with MetS were studied in 141 pre-pubertal schoolchildren with either very low birth weight (VLBW) or GA <32 weeks (SGA: n=43). RESULTS: At 8.3±0.8 years, 36 children (SGA: n=15) were classified short. There were no differences between the SGA and appropriate for age (AGA) groups; nor were dissimilarities observed between short children and those with normal height for parameters such as body mass index (BMI), serum levels of hormones, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, body composition, resting energy expenditure, grip strength and jump force. CONCLUSIONS: Neither SGA at birth nor short stature at follow-up (irrespective of size at birth), could be associated with parameters that indicate an increased risk for the MetS during childhood.