Decreased insulin sensitivity and abnormal glucose metabolism start in preadolescence in low-birth-weight children—Meta-analysis and systematic review

Abstract Aims Our meta-analysis aimed to analyze glucose and insulin abnormalities in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) or low-birth-weight (LBW) young people. Methods Our data were collected from several databases, including PubMed, AMED and so on. Cohort studies in English were included. SGA or LBW participants comprised the case group, while non-SGA or non-LBW participants comprised the control group. All subjects were younger than 45 years old. Results Sixteen studies and 10,060 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. The case group showed higher levels of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 2-h glucose (mean difference (MD) = 0.32 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.52 mmol/L, P = 0.0009) and fasting and OGTT 2-h insulin than the control group (respectively, MD = 7.47 pmol/L, 95% CI 1.77–13.17 pmol/L, P = 0.01 and MD = 105.55 pmol/L, 95% CI 65.43–145.66 pmol/L, P  10 years old and maximum age≤20 years old or 10 years old Conclusions Decreased insulin sensitivity and abnormal glucose metabolism began early in preadolescence. Furthermore, glucose tolerance was worse in adolescence. LBW or SGA status affects glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity beginning in preadolescence.