Published online March 1, 2005
PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 3 March 2005, pp. e290-e296 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-1808)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Boney, C. M.
Right arrow Articles by Vohr, B. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Boney, C. M.
Right arrow Articles by Vohr, B. R.
Related Collections
Right arrow Endocrinology

ELECTRONIC ARTICLE

Metabolic Syndrome in Childhood: Association With Birth Weight, Maternal Obesity, and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Charlotte M. Boney, MD*, Anila Verma, MBBS, PhD{ddagger}, Richard Tucker, BS§ and Betty R. Vohr, MD§

* Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Brown Medical School and Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
{ddagger} Clinical Safety and Epidemiology, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, New Jersey
§ Department of Pediatrics, Brown Medical School and Women and Infants' Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island

Objective. Childhood obesity has contributed to an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome (MS) among children. Intrauterine exposure to diabetes and size at birth are risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus, but their association with MS in childhood has not been demonstrated. We examined the development of MS among large-for-gestational-age (LGA) and appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) children.

Study Design. The major components of MS (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance) were evaluated in a longitudinal cohort study of children at age 6, 7, 9, and 11 years who were LGA (n = 84) or AGA (n = 95) offspring of mothers with or without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The cohort consisted of 4 groups, ie, LGA offspring of control mothers, LGA offspring of mothers with GDM, AGA offspring of control mothers, and AGA offspring of mothers with GDM. Biometric and anthropometric measurements were obtained at 6, 7, 9, and 11 years. Biochemical testing included measurements of postprandial glucose and insulin levels and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels at 6 and 7 years and of fasting glucose, insulin, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol levels at 9 and 11 years. We defined the components of MS as (1) obesity (BMI >85th percentile for age), (2) diastolic or systolic blood pressure >95th percentile for age, (3) postprandial glucose level >140 mg/dL or fasting glucose level >110 mg/dL, (4) triglyceride level >95th percentile for age, and (5) HDL level <5th percentile for age.

Results. There were no differences in baseline characteristics (gender, race, socioeconomic status, and maternal weight gain during pregnancy) for the 4 groups except for birth weight, but there was a trend toward a higher prevalence of maternal obesity before pregnancy in the LGA/GDM group. Obesity (BMI >85th percentile) at 11 years was present in 25% to 35% of the children, but rates were not different between LGA and AGA offspring. There was a trend toward a higher incidence of insulin resistance, defined as a fasting glucose/insulin ratio of <7, in the LGA/GDM group at 11 years. Analysis of insulin resistance at 11 years in a multivariate logistic regression revealed that childhood obesity and the combination of LGA status and maternal GDM were associated with insulin resistance, with odds ratios of 4.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5–11.9) and 10.4 (95% CI: 1.5–74.4), respectively. The prevalence at any time of ≥2 components of MS was 50% for the LGA/GDM group, which was significantly higher than values for the LGA/control group (29%), AGA/GDM group (21%), and AGA/control group (18%). The prevalence of ≥3 components of MS at age 11 was 15% for the LGA/GDM group, compared with 3.0% to 5.3% for the other groups. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the independent hazard (risk) of developing MS attributable to birth weight, gender, maternal prepregnancy obesity, and GDM. For Cox analyses, we defined MS as ≥2 of the following 4 components: obesity, hypertension (systolic or diastolic), glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia (elevated triglyceride levels or low HDL levels). LGA status and maternal obesity increased the risk of MS approximately twofold, with hazard ratios of 2.19 (95% CI: 1.25–3.82) and 1.81 (95% CI: 1.03–3.19), respectively. GDM and gender were not independently significant. To determine the cumulative hazard of developing MS with time, we plotted the risk according to LGA or AGA category for the control and GDM groups from 6 years to 11 years, with Cox regression analyses. The risk of developing MS with time was not significantly different between LGA and AGA offspring in the control group but was significantly different between LGA and AGA offspring in the GDM group, with a 3.6-fold greater risk among LGA children by 11 years.

Conclusions. We showed that LGA offspring of diabetic mothers were at significant risk of developing MS in childhood. The prevalence of MS in the other groups was similar to the prevalence (4.8%) among white adolescents in the 1988–1994 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This effect of LGA with maternal GDM on childhood MS was previously demonstrated for Pima Indian children but not the general population. We also found that children exposed to maternal obesity were at increased risk of developing MS, which suggests that obese mothers who do not fulfill the clinical criteria for GDM may still have metabolic factors that affect fetal growth and postnatal outcomes. Children who are LGA at birth and exposed to an intrauterine environment of either diabetes or maternal obesity are at increased risk of developing MS. Given the increased obesity prevalence, these findings have implications for perpetuating the cycle of obesity, insulin resistance, and their consequences in subsequent generations.


Key Words: insulin resistance • obesity • birth weight

Abbreviations: T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus • LGA, large for gestational age • AGA, appropriate for gestational age • MS, metabolic syndrome • GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus • NCEP, National Cholesterol Education Program • CI, confidence interval • HDL, high-density lipoprotein • SGA, small for gestational age • BP, blood pressure


Accepted Oct 21, 2004.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
NEJMHome page
P. D. Gluckman, M. A. Hanson, C. Cooper, and K. L. Thornburg
Effect of In Utero and Early-Life Conditions on Adult Health and Disease
N. Engl. J. Med., July 3, 2008; 359(1): 61 - 73.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Public HealthHome page
R. G. Ramos and K. Olden
The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among US Women of Childbearing Age
Am J Public Health, June 1, 2008; 98(6): 1122 - 1127.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Trop PediatrHome page
S.-M. Alavian, M. E. Motlagh, G. Ardalan, M. Motaghian, A. H. Davarpanah, and R. Kelishadi
Hypertriglyceridemic Waist Phenotype and Associated Lifestyle Factors in a National Population of Youths: CASPIAN Study
J Trop Pediatr, June 1, 2008; 54(3): 169 - 177.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Hum LactHome page
S. Murphy and C. Wilson
Breastfeeding Promotion: A Rational and Achievable Target for a Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Intervention in Native American Communities
J Hum Lact, May 1, 2008; 24(2): 193 - 198.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
E. S. Ford, C. Li, G. Zhao, W. S. Pearson, and A. H. Mokdad
Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome Among U.S. Adolescents Using the Definition From the International Diabetes Federation
Diabetes Care, March 1, 2008; 31(3): 587 - 589.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DiabetesHome page
D. A. Ingram, I. Z. Lien, L. E. Mead, M. Estes, D. N. Prater, E. Derr-Yellin, L. A. DiMeglio, and L. S. Haneline
In Vitro Hyperglycemia or a Diabetic Intrauterine Environment Reduces Neonatal Endothelial Colony-Forming Cell Numbers and Function
Diabetes, March 1, 2008; 57(3): 724 - 731.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol.Home page
B. E. Vikse, L. M. Irgens, T. Leivestad, S. Hallan, and B. M. Iversen
Low Birth Weight Increases Risk for End-Stage Renal Disease
J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., January 1, 2008; 19(1): 151 - 157.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Obstet GynecolHome page
P. M. Catalano
Increasing Maternal Obesity and Weight Gain During Pregnancy: The Obstetric Problems of Plentitude
Obstet. Gynecol., October 1, 2007; 110(4): 743 - 744.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
S. Y. Chu, W. M. Callaghan, S. Y. Kim, C. H. Schmid, J. Lau, L. J. England, and P. M. Dietz
Maternal Obesity and Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Care, August 1, 2007; 30(8): 2070 - 2076.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
J. A. Rowan and on behalf of the MiG Investigators
A Trial in Progress: Gestational Diabetes: Treatment with metformin compared with insulin (the Metformin in Gestational Diabetes [MiG] trial)
Diabetes Care, July 1, 2007; 30(Supplement_2): S214 - S219.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
JAMAHome page
R. B. Lipton
Incidence of Diabetes in Children and Youth--Tracking a Moving Target
JAMA, June 27, 2007; 297(24): 2760 - 2762.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Epidemiol RevHome page
R. Kelishadi
Childhood Overweight, Obesity, and the Metabolic Syndrome in Developing Countries
Epidemiol. Rev., May 3, 2007; (2007) mxm003v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
B. Knight, B. M. Shields, A. Hill, R. J. Powell, D. Wright, and A. T. Hattersley
The Impact of Maternal Glycemia and Obesity on Early Postnatal Growth in a Nondiabetic Caucasian Population
Diabetes Care, April 1, 2007; 30(4): 777 - 783.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
C. Thomas, E. Hypponen, and C. Power
Prenatal Exposures and Glucose Metabolism in Adulthood: Are effects mediated through birth weight and adiposity?
Diabetes Care, April 1, 2007; 30(4): 918 - 924.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Nutr.Home page
S. P. Bagby
Maternal Nutrition, Low Nephron Number, and Hypertension in Later Life: Pathways of Nutritional Programming
J. Nutr., April 1, 2007; 137(4): 1066 - 1072.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
E. Johannsson, T. Henriksen, and P. O. Iversen
Increase in matrix metalloproteinases from endothelial cells exposed to umbilical cord plasma from high birth weight newborns
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2007; 292(4): R1563 - R1568.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Exp PhysiolHome page
P. D. Taylor and L. Poston
Developmental programming of obesity in mammals
Exp Physiol, March 1, 2007; 92(2): 287 - 298.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Obstet GynecolHome page
P. M. Catalano
Management of Obesity in Pregnancy
Obstet. Gynecol., February 1, 2007; 109(2): 419 - 433.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Diabetes CareHome page
C. L. Leibson, J. P. Burke, J. E. Ransom, J. Forsgren, J. Melton III, K. R. Bailey, and P. J. Palumbo
Relative Risk of Mortality Associated With Diabetes as a Function of Birth Weight
Diabetes Care, December 1, 2005; 28(12): 2839 - 2843.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Bio.Home page
E. Isganaitis and R. H. Lustig
Fast Food, Central Nervous System Insulin Resistance, and Obesity
Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., December 1, 2005; 25(12): 2451 - 2462.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]