Adult glucose metabolism in extremely birthweight-discordant monozygotic twins

TY - JOUR

T1 - Adult glucose metabolism in extremely birthweight-discordant monozygotic twins

AU - Frost, M

AU - Petersen, I

AU - Brixen, K

AU - Beck-Nielsen, Henning

AU - Holst, Jens Juul

AU - Christiansen, L

AU - Højlund, Kurt

AU - Christensen, K

PY - 2012/12

Y1 - 2012/12

N2 - Aims/hypothesis Low birthweight (BW) is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes.We compared glucose metabolism in adult BW-discordant monozygotic (MZ) twins, thereby controlling for genetic factors and rearing environment. Methods Among 77,885 twins in the Danish Twin Registry, 155 of the most BW-discordant MZ twin pairs (median BW difference 0.5 kg) were assessed using a 2 h oral glucose tolerance test with sampling of plasma (p-)glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1. HOMA for beta cell function (HOMA-β) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and also insulin sensitivity index (BIGTT-SI) and acute insulin response (BIGTT-AIR), were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed in those with: (1) double verification of BW difference; (2) difference inBW<0.5 kg; and (3) no overt metabolic disease (type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidaemia or thyroid disease). Results No intra-pair differences in p-glucose, insulin, C-peptide, incretin hormones, HOMA-β, HOMA-IR or BIGTT-SI were identified. p-Glucose at 120 min was higher in the twins with the highest BW without metabolic disease, and BIGTT-AIR was higher in those with the highest BW although not in pairs with a BW difference of <0.5 kg. Conclusions/interpretation BW-discordantMZ twins provide no evidence for a detrimental effect of low BW on glucose metabolism in adulthood once genetic factors and rearing environment are controlled for.

AB - Aims/hypothesis Low birthweight (BW) is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes.We compared glucose metabolism in adult BW-discordant monozygotic (MZ) twins, thereby controlling for genetic factors and rearing environment. Methods Among 77,885 twins in the Danish Twin Registry, 155 of the most BW-discordant MZ twin pairs (median BW difference 0.5 kg) were assessed using a 2 h oral glucose tolerance test with sampling of plasma (p-)glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1. HOMA for beta cell function (HOMA-β) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and also insulin sensitivity index (BIGTT-SI) and acute insulin response (BIGTT-AIR), were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed in those with: (1) double verification of BW difference; (2) difference inBW<0.5 kg; and (3) no overt metabolic disease (type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidaemia or thyroid disease). Results No intra-pair differences in p-glucose, insulin, C-peptide, incretin hormones, HOMA-β, HOMA-IR or BIGTT-SI were identified. p-Glucose at 120 min was higher in the twins with the highest BW without metabolic disease, and BIGTT-AIR was higher in those with the highest BW although not in pairs with a BW difference of <0.5 kg. Conclusions/interpretation BW-discordantMZ twins provide no evidence for a detrimental effect of low BW on glucose metabolism in adulthood once genetic factors and rearing environment are controlled for.

U2 - 10.1007/s00125-012-2695-x

DO - 10.1007/s00125-012-2695-x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22955993

SN - 0012-186X

VL - 55

SP - 3204

EP - 3212

JO - Diabetologia

JF - Diabetologia

IS - 12

ER -