Prenatal stress due to a natural disaster predicts insulin secretion in adolescence

Early Hum Dev. 2013 Sep;89(9):773-6. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2013.06.006. Epub 2013 Jul 5.

Abstract

Prenatal stress might increase cardiometabolic disease risk. We measured prenatal stress due to an ice storm in 1998, and measured glucose tolerance among a subsample of 32 exposed adolescents in 2011. Severity of stress was positively associated with insulin secretion, suggesting that prenatal stress independently predicts metabolic outcomes in adolescence.

Keywords: Developmental origins of health and disease; Metabolism; Pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Canada
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Disasters*
  • Female
  • Glucose Intolerance / epidemiology
  • Glucose Intolerance / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Male
  • Maternal Exposure
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / metabolism*
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology

Substances

  • Insulin