Health: Low birth weight diabetes
link
March 01, 2005
Scientists have discovered a reason why small babies
appear to be at heightened risk of developing type 2
diabetes later in life. They found a lack of nutrients
in the womb permanently damages key cells in the pancreas
which secrete insulin.
Low levels of this hormone mean the body cannot control
blood sugar levels - raising the risk of diabetes.
The study carried out on mice by the Joslin Diabetes
Center in Boston is published in the journal Diabetes.
Lead researcher Dr Mary-Elizabeth Patti said: "The
bottom line is that if you don't have delivery of enough
nutrients from the mother to the baby, the baby's pancreatic
cells will be programmed abnormally."
Dr Patti said the effect would not show up until later
in life - probably not until adolescence or even adulthood.
The researchers compared the offspring of mice fed
a normal diet with those who were under-nourished for
the final third of their pregnancy.
At birth, the babies of the under-nourished group weighed
23% less.
Tests showed that for the first two months of their
lives all the baby mice had similar blood sugar levels.
But by four months those in the under-nourished group
starting recording higher levels, and by six months
they showed levels equivalent to full-blown diabetes
in humans.
The researchers found no difference in pancreas size
or numbers of insulin-producing cells.
But the cells were unable to step up secretion of insulin
in response to a surge in blood sugar levels.
The problem seemed to be permanent, and persisted even
when the animals' achieved a normal bodyweight.
Lifestyle important
Dr Patti said: "People and their doctors need to
understand that prenatal under-nourishment makes a person
permanently at higher risk for developing diabetes,
so prenatal care is important.
"Moreover, if someone was born with low weight,
they need to pay special attention to prevention tactics,
including exercise and weight control to minimize insulin
resistance - the other major factor involved in triggering
type 2 diabetes.
"In particular, someone who was a low birth weight
baby can compound the risk of developing diabetes by
becoming overweight.
"The stage is set in two ways: low insulin production
coupled with resistance to insulin - a double whammy."
Roopinder Brar, of the charity Diabetes UK, said the
association between low birth weight and an increased
risk of type 2 diabetes was well documented.
"This study on mice offers potential reasons behind
this link. Although interesting, further research is
needed before any definitive conclusions can be made."
Inadequate nutrition of a developing baby is not always
simply down to the mother eating a poor diet.
It can be caused by abnormal development of the placenta
and its blood vessels, or by high blood pressure, which
damages the vessels.
Source:www.keralanext.com
|
