Low-Birth Weight Children Develop Lower Sex Hormone Binding Globulin and Higher Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Levels and Aggravate their Visceral Adiposity and Hypoadiponectinemia between Six and Eight Years of Age

Background: Most children born small for gestational age (SGA) normalize their body size by late infancy. Between 2 and 6 yr, such SGA children develop higher circulating levels of insulin, lower levels of adiponectin, and more visceral fat than appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) controls, even in the absence of overweight. Here we report on their further course between 6 and 8 yr. Study Design and Population: Longitudinal study over 2 yr comparing data from 32 AGA vs. 32 SGA children, matched for gender, height, weight, and body mass index at the age of 6 yr. Main Outcomes: Fasting insulin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), SHBG, high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin, leptin, IGF-I; body composition by absorptiometry; and abdominal fat partitioning by magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Between 6 and 8 yr, novel AGA-vs.-SGA divergences emerged (higher DHEAS and lower SHBG in SGA; P < 0.001), and some earlier divergences widened further (HMW adiponectin, visceral fat; P < 0.001), whereas other...