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A new study suggests that adults who are born even moderately preterm (32 to 36 weeks' gestation) are less insulin sensitive compared to those born at term.

Reduced insulin sensitivity or Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition where the cells in the body are no longer capable of responding to the normal actions of the hormone insulin.

In this condition, cells fail to absorb glucose, amino acids and fatty acids thus leading them to 'leak' out of the cells. A decrease in insulin/glucagon ratio inhibits glycolysis which in turn decreases energy production. Subsequently, there is an increase in the blood glucose levels which leads to adverse health effects, depending on dietary conditions (medicinenet.com).

Certain types of cells require insulin to absorb glucose, and when these cells fail to respond adequately to circulating insulin, blood glucose levels rise. The liver helps regulate glucose levels by reducing its secretion of glucose in the presence of insulin. This normal reduction in the liver's glucose production may not occur in people with insulin resistance (science daily.com).

For the current study, Sarah Mathai, M.D., of the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and colleagues conducted a study involving 52 adults aged between 34 and 38 years (31 had been born preterm) and 61 of their children (37 born of preterm parents) in order to understand if there is a relationship between insulin sensitivity and β-cell function in adults born preterm and their children.

The findings of the study revealed that compared to adults born at term, those born preterm were less insulin sensitive, regardless of their gender. This was found to be true even when those born before 32 weeks' gestation were excluded.

β-cell function was found to be normal in these adults and children born to preterm born adults did not display insulin resistance.

"In conclusion, adults born even moderately preterm (32 to 36 weeks' gestation) have an isolated reduction in insulin sensitivity but normal β-cell function. There was no evidence of impaired glucose metabolism in their children," the authors write. "Because the rate of preterm birth is rising, with the majority born only moderately preterm, the associated reduced insulin sensitivity in adults born preterm is likely to pose a substantial public health burden in the future."

The study is published in the October issue of Diabetes.