Reduced foetal growth and growth hormone secretion in adult life

OBJECTIVES Recent studies suggest that growth restriction or other adverse influences acting in utero or during early infancy lead to permanent alterations in growth hormone (GH) secretion. As GH secretion is known to predict cardiovascular risk, alterations in GH may contribute to the association b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) 1999-06, Vol.50 (6), p.735-740
Main Authors: Flanagan, Daniel E, Moore, Vivienne M, Godsland, Ian F, Cockington, Richard A, Robinson, Jeffrey S, Phillips, David I W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Birth Weight
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology
Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy
Embryonic and Fetal Development
Female
Functional investigation of endocrine glands and genital system
Glucose Tolerance Test
Growth Hormone - metabolism
Growth Hormone - urine
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Insulin - blood
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Male
Medical sciences
Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
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Summary:OBJECTIVES Recent studies suggest that growth restriction or other adverse influences acting in utero or during early infancy lead to permanent alterations in growth hormone (GH) secretion. As GH secretion is known to predict cardiovascular risk, alterations in GH may contribute to the association between reduced foetal growth and cardiovascular disease. We have therefore assessed the relationship between birth size and GH secretion in a prospective study of young adults whose birth size was recorded and who have had their current blood pressure and glucose tolerance measured. DESIGN Prospective cohort study PATIENTS 153 healthy men and women, aged 20–21 years. MEASUREMENTS Subjects carried out a timed overnight urinary collection for analysis of GH excretion. Insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion were measured using the intravenous glucose tolerance test with minimal model analysis. Blood pressure, height, weight, usual level of exercise, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and socio‐economic status were also recorded. RESULTS GH excretion ranged from 0.01 to 41.8 μU per subject. It did not differ according to gender but was markedly reduced in obese subjects (P 
ISSN:0300-0664
1365-2265
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2265.1999.00718.x