Low Birth Weight and Development of Type 2 Diabetes in a Japanese Population
- Sonoko Anazawa, MD,
- Yoshihito Atsumi, MD and
- Kempei Matsuoka, MD
- From Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- Address correspondence to Sonoko Anazawa, MD, 1-4-17 Mita, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-0073, Japan. E-mail: sonoko-a{at}fa2.so-net.ne.jp.
According to epidemiological studies in the U. K. and other countries, individuals with low birth weights often develop insulin resistance–based disorders (1–5). Among Pima Indians and Taiwanese school children, a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes was observed in individuals with both low and high birth weights (U-shaped relationship of birth weight and diabetes) (6,7). We conducted a study to examine the relation of low birth weight with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.
To obtain data on birth weight, weight at age 20 years, maximum weight in the past, height, and other variables, we asked 2,471 employees (2,259 men and 212 women) of two companies in Tokyo and 815 patients (514 men and 301 …
