Prematurity is not associated with reduced insulin sensitivity in adulthood.

Background: In 2005, 12.7% of all babies were born preterm, and the incidence is rising. Nowadays, due to improved survival, an increasing number of children born preterm reach young adulthood. A recent report suggested lower insulin sensitivity in children born preterm, which may put them at risk for the development of type 2 diabetes. It is, however, still unknown whether this reduced insulin sensitivity persists into adulthood. Methods: We determined insulin sensitivity and β-cell function with frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance tests in 305 young adults (aged 18–24 yr; 169 preterm and 136 term). Adult body composition was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. We investigated the effect of gestational age, size at birth, and adult body composition on insulin sensitivity. Results: In contrast to previous reports, we found no evidence that preterm birth has a deleterious effect on insulin sensitivity in young adulthood. Adult trunk fat and the use of oral contraceptives in women were the mos...