Published online December 1, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 6 December 2006, pp. 2374-2379 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0146)
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ARTICLE

Absence of the Wild-type Allele (192 Base Pairs) of a Polymorphism in the Promoter Region of the IGF-I Gene but Not a Polymorphism in the Insulin Gene Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Locus Is Associated With Accelerated Weight Gain in Infancy

Eva Landmann, MDa, Frank Geller, MScb, Jutta Schilling, MDa, Silvia Rudloff, PhDa, Eleonore Foeller-Gaudier, MDc and Ludwig Gortner, MDd

a Pediatric Center, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
b Institute for Medical Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
c Public Health Service of the City of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
d Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany

OBJECTIVE. Our goal was to investigate whether a polymorphism in the insulin-like growth factor I promoter gene (IGF-I, wild-type, 192 base pairs) and in the insulin gene (INS) variable number of tandem repeat locus influence birth weight and weight gain in infancy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS. We obtained genomic DNA from 768 children. Exclusion criteria were multiple births, gestational diabetes, maternal diabetes, gestational age <37 weeks, >42 weeks, or unclear, and any condition potentially influencing weight gain. SD scores were calculated and adjusted for gestational age and gender. A gain in SD scores for weight between birth and 1 year >0.67 SD scores was defined as accelerated weight gain. Genotyping was performed by fragment length analysis (IGF-I) and by fragment length analysis after using a restriction enzyme-based assay (INS variable number tandem repeat).

RESULTS. Accelerated weight gain was present in 205 of 768 children. IGF-I and INS variable number tandem repeat genotype were not associated with birth weight. The IGF-I 192-base pair allele was less frequent in children with accelerated weight gain and was shown to reduce the risk for accelerated weight gain in a logistic regression model.

CONCLUSION. The IGF-I 192-base pair allele may reduce the risk for rapid weight gain in early infancy.

Key Words: fetal growth restriction • infant • genetic predisposition • obesity • weight gain

Abbreviations: IGF-I—insulin-like growth factor I • VNTR— variable number of tandem repeats • INS—insulin gene • OR—odds ratio • PCR—polymerase chain reaction • CI—confidence interval

Accepted Aug 29, 2006.