Early postnatal weight gain is associated with determinants of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in adults born term. We aimed to investigate the association of weight gain during different periods, and weight trajectories in early life after preterm birth, with determinants of CVD and DM2 in early adulthood. Associations of first-year growth and tempo of weight gain with determinants of CVD and DM2 in 162 young adults (18-24 yr) born preterm (gestational age <36 wk) were determined and compared with data of young adults born term (n = 217). Gain in weight for length in the period from preterm birth up to term age, and in the first 3 months after term age, was positively associated with body fat percentage and waist circumference at 21 yr. Gain in weight for length in the first 3 months after term age was also positively associated with total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in early adulthood. Subjects with the highest gain in weight from birth to term age (highest quartile) had significantly higher body fat percentage, waist circumference, acute insulin response, and disposition index in early adulthood than the subgroups with moderate and low gain in weight. Rapid catch-up in weight during the first 3 months after term age resulted in a higher fat percentage, waist circumference, and serum triglycerides level than slower catch-up in weight. Accelerated neonatal gain in weight relative to length after preterm birth (immediately after birth and during the first 3 months after term age) is associated with determinants of CVD in early adulthood and should therefore be avoided.

Background: The relationship between low birth weight and increased risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS) in later life has been frequently described, but mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. Methods: In 280 young adults of the PROGRAM study, aged 18–24 yr, we investigated associations of birth weight, gain in weight for length during early life, and adult IGF-I sd score (SDS), with number of MetS components (ordinal regression analyses), prevalence of MetS components and MetS (logistic regression analyses), and other metabolic parameters (linear regression analyses). Revised criteria of the National Cholesterol Educational Program (Adult Treatment Panel III) were used to determine components of MetS. The other metabolic parameters were C-reactive protein, insulin sensitivity, trunk fat mass, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Results: More gain in weight for length SDS in the first 3 months of life was significantly associated with an increased number of MetS components [odds ratio (OR) = 1.34], prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR = 1.49), prevalence of MetS (OR = 2.51), increased C-reactive protein levels, and lower insulin sensitivity (P = 0.007) at the age of 21 yr. Low birth weight SDS was associated with lower insulin sensitivity (P = 0.036), but low birth weight SDS and adult IGF-I SDS were not significantly associated with any of the MetS components or MetS prevalence at 21 yr. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that higher gain in weight for length in the first 3 months of life is associated with a higher prevalence of MetS at 21 yr, whereas low birth weight and low adult IGF-I are not.

Aims: To investigate the effect of birth size and weight gain during childhood on blood pressure and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in young adulthood. Methods: The relationship of birth size with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and cIMT was investigated in 243 adults, aged 18–24 years. SBP, DBP, and cIMT were also analyzed in 4 subgroups: subjects either born small for gestational age with short stature (SGA-S) or with catch-up growth (SGA-CU), or born appropriate for gestational age with idiopathic short stature or with normal stature (controls). Results: Adult weight SDS and fat mass were positively related to SBP and DBP, adjusted for birthweight SDS which was not related to SBP and DBP. Birth size was also not related to cIMT. Subgroup analyses showed no differences in blood pressure between subgroups, but cIMT was significantly greater in SGA-CU subjects than in controls after correction for age, gender and artery diameter. This difference became borderline significant after additional correction for smoking and SBP. Conclusion: Not birth size but childhood weight gain, especially fat mass, determines young adult blood pressure. Postnatal catch-up growth appears to have a greater influence on cardiovascular disease markers than birth size.

Background/objectives: Preterm birth has been associated with reduced reproduction rates, and controversies remain regarding the effect of being born small for gestational age (SGA) on ovarian function. Recent findings in young men showed no effect of preterm and SGA birth on testis function. We hypothesised that follicle pool size in young adult women is also not affected by preterm and SGA birth.Design/methods: In 279 young women of the PROGRAM/PREMS study, aged 18–24 years, the influence of gestational age, birth length and birth weight on serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was analysed with multiple regression modelling. Additionally, AMH levels were analysed in preterm- versus term-born females and in three subgroups: females born SGA with either short stature or catch-up growth (SGA-CU), and females born term and appropriate for gestational age with normal stature (AGA controls).Results: Preterm and SGA birth did not affect AMH and other hormone levels. Older age at menarche and oral contraceptive pill use (OC-use) were related to lower AMH levels, and maternal smoking during gestation was related to higher AMH levels. After correction for maternal smoking, lower socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with lower AMH levels. In subgroup comparisons, SGA-CU women showed higher AMH levels than AGA controls, also after adjustment for several factors.Conclusion: Preterm and SGA birth did not affect AMH levels. Factors associated with serum AMH levels were OC-use, age at menarche, maternal smoking during gestation and SES. We conclude that preterm- and/or SGA-born females are not likely to have a reduced follicle pool size.

Background/Objectives: Preterm birth has been associated with reduced reproduction rates and being born small for gestational age (SGA) with reduced gonadal function. We hypothesized that alterations concerning gonadal function in young men are not due to preterm birth or being born SGA, but are due to other (environmental) factors. Methods: In 207 young men of the PROGRAM/PREMS cohort study, aged 18–24 yr, the influence of preterm birth, birth length, and birth weight on serum levels of anti-Mullerian hormone, inhibin B, testosterone, SHBG, non-SHBG-bound testosterone, LH, and FSH was analyzed with multiple regression modeling. In addition, markers of male gonadal function were analyzed in four subgroups: men born SGA with either short stature or catch-up growth, or men born appropriate for gestational age with idiopathic short stature or with normal stature (control). Results: Preterm birth and SGA did not affect gonadal function. After adjustment for age, birth size, adult height, fat mass, and socioeconomic status (SES), preterm birth even showed a positive relation with inhibin B. Higher SES was associated with higher inhibin B levels. Higher fat mass was associated with decreased testosterone and SHBG levels and maternal smoking with increased LH and non-SHBG-bound testosterone levels. After adjustment for confounders, there were no significant differences in gonadal function between the subgroups. Conclusion: Preterm birth and SGA did not affect gonadal function in young men. Factors that affected gonadal function were: lower SES, a higher fat mass, and maternal smoking during pregnancy. Preterm birth and small birth size for gestational age do not affect male gonadal function in early adulthood.