ArticlePaediatric and perinatal epidemiology2025
Body Composition in Adults Born at Very Low Birthweight-A Sibling Study.
Article in Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and extremely preterm birth: time for a broader perspective on long-term outcomes.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2026Review
- Blood and adipose tissue DNA methylation in adults born preterm with a very low birth weight - a sibling comparison study.Epigenomics · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIndividuals born preterm at very low birthweight (VLBW, < 1500 g) tend to attain a smaller adult body size compared with term-born peers but less is known regarding specific body composition characteristics.
objectivesWe aimed to assess whether adults born at VLBW have less beneficial body composition characteristics, potentially mediating the association between VLBW birth and cardiometabolic disease. Sibling controls were used to account for the potential influence of shared genetic and/or lifestyle factors.
methodsThis cohort study featured 77 adults born at VLBW and 70 term-born siblings. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry assessment took place at a mean age of 29 years. Fat mass (FM) distribution was calculated by dividing appendicular by truncal FM. Appendicular skeletal mass (ASM) measurements were used to calculate two indices: Skeletal mass index (SMI, ASM divided by height squared) and ASM/BMI (ASM divided by body mass index). Data were analysed by linear mixed models. An exploratory analysis subdivided the VLBW group by size at gestational age [small or appropriate for gestational age (SGA, defined as a birthweight < 2 SD, or AGA)].
resultsParticipants born at VLBW were lighter (-4.7 kg, 95% CI -8.2, -1.2) and shorter (-4.3 cm, 95% CI -6.2, -2.4) than sibling peers. After controlling for sex, age, and maternal factors, they had lower limb/trunk fat ratios (-0.06, 95% CI -0.11, -0.003), LBM (-2.02 kg, 95% CI -3.92, -0.12), ASM (-1.22 kg, 95% CI -2.14, -0.30) and ASM/BMI (-0.05, 95% CI -0.10, -0.004). FM and SMI did not differ between groups. In the subgroup analysis, findings were limited to those born VLBW + SGA.
conclusionsIndividuals born at VLBW had, on average, lower limb/trunk fat ratios and lower relative ASM compared with term-born siblings. A more centralised fat distribution, as well as lower appendicular muscle mass, could potentially mediate the association between VLBW birth and cardiometabolic risk.
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