Higher maternal 3rd trimester insulin resistance is linked to central fat deposition in 7-year-old girls. An Odense Child Cohort study

AIMS: To examine associations between maternal 3rd trimester insulin resistance, glucose status and child body composition at 7 years, including gynoid and android fat deposition in boys and girls. METHODS: 903 mother-child pairs (girls, n = 449) were included from the Odense Child Cohort. Third trimester insulin resistance, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin, and HbA1c and 1st trimester HbA1c were measured. Child Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)-assessed body composition (total, android and gynoid fat mass) were estimated at 7 years. Participants and health professionals were blinded for maternal FPG, insulin and HbA1c results. RESULTS: In girls, a doubling in 3rd trimester HOMA-IR was associated with 7.1% (P = 0.02), 1.1% (P = 0.008) and 4% (P = 0.008) higher android, gynoid and total fat mass percentages, respectively. One mmol/L higher maternal FPG was associated with 6.1% (P = 0.02) higher total fat mass percentage in girls. Associations between 3rd trimester HOMA-IR, FPG, insulin, HbA1c and child fat mass percentage were positive in girls (All P ≤ 0.02) and boys (P = 0.14, 0.07, 0.19 and 0.15, respectively), but were only significant in girls. CONCLUSIONS: Insulin resistance in 3rd trimester was linked to more central fat in 7-year-old girls, suggesting higher susceptibility to insulin resistance in girls compared to boys.