Very Low Birth Weight Linked to Insulin Resistance

Young adults who had a very low birth weight (VLBW) are more likely to have insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and higher blood pressure than those who were born at term and weren't small for gestational age, according to a study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Investigators compared results of glucose and insulin metabolism testing in 163 VLBW young adults and 169 non-VLBW young adults born at term. The two groups were 18–27 years old and similar in terms of other demographics and lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption.

Testing revealed that VLBW people had on average a 6.7% increase in the 2-hour glucose concentration, a 16.7% increase in the fasting insulin concentration, and an 18.9% increase in the insulin-resistance index. Investigators also found a 4.8 mmHg average increase in systolic blood pressure.

VLBW “is associated with signs of impaired glucose regulation in young adult life,” the researchers conclude. “This finding suggests that persons with very low birth weight might be more vulnerable to disorders such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life.”