Insulin resistance and insulin-like growth factors in children with intrauterine growth retardation

Aims: To investigate (a) the prevalence of insulin resistance in children w ith intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR); (b) whether catch-up growth is associated with a higher risk of insulin resistance; (c) the insulin-like g rowth factor (IGF) system status. Methods: 49 children with IUGR aged 9.1 /- 3.3 years underwent anthropometric measurements, and assessment of insul in resistance and IGF system parameters. A fasting glucose/insulin ratio (G /I) <6 was chosen as suggestive of insulin resistance, Results: 11/49 (22%) children had a G/I <6, Postnatal growth closely correlated with birth size and actual body mass index (BMI), None of the insulin resistance parameter s was related to linear growth and BMI, Liver function markers were signifi cantly related to insulin sensitivity status. The IGF system status was nor mal and did not correlate with insulin resistance indicators. Conclusions: (a) Children with IUGR have a high prevalence of reduced insulin sensitivit y; (b) postnatal catch-up growth is related to intrauterine growth and actu al nutritional status; (c) insulin sensitivity status is not related to pos tnatal growth but to liver function; (d) IGF system is normal and not relat ed to the insulin resistance parameters during childhood. Copyright <(c)> 2 001 S. Karger AG,Basel.