The association between fetal and postnatal growth status and serum levels of uric acid in children at 3 years of age

Abstract

Background: Recent studies suggest that uric acid plays a causal role in the development of hypertension in relation to birth weight. The aim of the study was to elucidate the effect of prenatal and/or postnatal growth status on serum uric acid levels in children at 3 years of age. Methods: A total of 178 children from the birth cohort at Ewha Womans University Hospital were followed. Anthropometric characteristics, blood pressure, and serum uric acid were measured at 3 years of age. Results: The level of serum uric acid was significantly higher in hypertensive children (3.8 mg/dl) than in nonhypertensive children (3.4 mg/dl). Preterm birth and lower placental weight were the preterm factors significantly associated with increased serum uric acid in early childhood. In addition, current weight, body mass index, and change-in-weight s.d. score from birth to current were also associated with serum uric acid level. Both the first- and fourth-quartile groups for weight and weight gain presented higher levels of serum uric acid. We found that the highest uric acid level belonged to the group of preterm or low birth weight (LBW) and higher change in weight s.d. score. Children who were born at full term or with a normal birth weight and lower change in weight s.d. score had the lowest serum uric acid levels. Conclusion: Preterm birth and a subsequent high rate of postnatal weight gain are risk factors for increased serum uric acid levels in early childhood. © 2009 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.