Innate Small Babies Are Metabolically Healthy Children

Background: Being born small for gestational age (SGA) is regarded as a risk factor for later metabolic complications. The SGA is defined as a birth weight below −2 sd of the distribution for sex and gestational age. However, the definition of SGA does not distinguish between those born after fetal growth restriction and innate SGA (iSGA). Objective: Our objective was to test whether innate SGA infants show any metabolic complications at the age of 2 yr in comparison with infants born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Methods: Fifty-eight infants with family SGA risk factors (SGA in a previous pregnancy or among parents, maternal height less than −2 sd for adult height in French women, and small fetal size at second-trimester ultrasound examination) were prospectively followed from midgestation to 2 yr of age. Fetal growth velocity was measured from ultrasound measurements. Body composition and hormonal profile were measured at birth and 1 and 2 yr. Results: Fetal growth velocity was not significantl...