Low birth weight, family history of diabetes, and glucose intolerance in Swedish middle-aged men

OBJECTIVE - To investigate the association between low birth weight and glu cose intolerance in relation to family history of diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Mie conducted a population-based cross-sectio nal study of 2,237 men born in 1938-1957 in four municipalities in the outs kirts of Stockholm, 50% of whom had a family history of diabetes (at least one first-degree or two second-degree relatives with diabetes). Oral glucos e tolerance testing detected 35 cases of type 2 diabetes, 102 cases of impa ired glucose tolerance, and 57 cases of impaired fasting glucose. RESULTS - In subjects without a family history of diabetes, low (less than or equal to 3,000 g) birth weight was associated with an odds ratio of 2.3 (95% confidence intervals = 0.4-14.4) for diabetes, 1.8 (0.7-4.3) for impai red glucose tolerance, and 3.3 (1.0-10.4) for impaired fasting glucose. In subjects with a family history of diabetes, the corresponding figures were approximately similar, except for diabetes, fur which the odds ratio was 5. 4 (2.0-14.9). For men with low birth weight in combination with a family hi story of diabetes, the odds ratio was 10.9 (2.9-41.2) for diabetes, 2.4 (1. 1-5.6) for impaired glucose tolerance, and 5.9 (2.1-16.3) for impaired fast ing glucose CONCLUSIONS - This study indicated that low birth weight is associated with type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and impaired fasting glucose in men. This finding was most pronounced in subjects with diabetes in the f amily but it was also indicated in those without a family history of diabet es. Men with the combination of low birth weight and family history of diab etes seem to be at particularly high risk of developing ripe 2 diabetes.