To Improve Understanding of Interactions Among Intra- Uterine Growth Retardation, Early Growth, Body Fat and Risk of Chronic Disease in Low-Birth Weight Children. (29th May 2020) - Trilok-Kumar, Geeta
Abstract: Objectives: To understand the effect of being born LBW and early growth on body fat % and distribution and adipokines in children from our LBW term cohort born 8–12 years ago. Methods: The cohort of LBW term infants ( n = 2079) from low-income families were recruited for the Delhi Infant Vitamin D Supplementation study (DIVIDS) cohort. In 2014 we studied them again at age 4–6 years and are currently following them when aged 8–12 years. We measured detailed anthropometry, body fat by bioelectrical impedance and leptin, visfatin and adiponectin in fasting blood samples. Results: 195 DIVIDS boys, 211 DIVIDS girls and 29 controls (15 boys and 14 girls) were measured. Mean ages were 11(0.9) years for boys and 10.9(0.9) years for girls. Boys weighed 29.3 (7.8) kg and girls 29.5 (7.5) kg. Percent fat mass was higher in girls than boys. 18% of children were stunted (HAZ < 2). The proportion of overweight boys (BMIZ scores >2) was 6% and for girls was 1%. Median serum leptin values were higher for girls than boys [{4.1 (IQR 2.1, 8.1)} versus {2.6(0.9, 5.8)}; P = <0.001] and correlated with body fat %. Conclusions: The results provide some new knowledge regarding cardiometabolic risk factors in term LBW Indian children which can be useful to inform policy and practice as well as intervention studies to mitigate this threat in a country like India which high rates of chronic disease. Funding Sources: Wellcome Trust-DBT Senior Research Fellowship in Public Health.