Early Cardiometabolic Characteristics in Childhood Among Large-for-Gestational-Age Infants

Background/Aims: To evaluate cardiometabolic characteristics in prepubertal children born large for gestational age (LGA) compared with those born appropriate for gestational age (AGA), with a focus on adiposity, insulin levels, and lipid parameters.Methods: This study included 117 prepubertal children aged 6–9 years (59 LGA, 58 AGA). Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and fasting laboratory parameters were assessed. LGA was defined as birth weight ≥90th percentile for gestational age, and AGA as the 10th–90th percentile. Insulin levels and lipid profiles were evaluated. Statistical analyses included t-tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and chi-square tests.Results: Children born LGA had significantly higher weight, height, BMI, and waist and hip circumferences compared with AGA peers (p≤0.010). Obesity prevalence was higher in the LGA group (25.4% vs. 10.3%, p=0.030). Fasting glucose and insulin levels were similar between groups. Total cholesterol and LDL-C were significantly higher in LGA children (p=0.010 and p=0.030, respectively), while HDL-C was also higher (p=0.040) and triglyceride levels were lower (p=0.04).Conclusions: Children born LGA showed greater adiposity and higher LDL cholesterol concentrations than AGA peers. Although insulin resistance and elevated blood pressure were not evident at this age, the cross-sectional design and the restriction to offspring of mothers without recognised metabolic disease mean that these findings represent associations rather than evidence of causation and require confirmation in longitudinal studies.