Induced preterm birth and glucose metabolism

What is it about?

Glucocorticoids are used clinically in women at risk of preterm birth, but variable effects on metabolic outcomes have been reported in progeny. In a clinically-relevant animal model, we show here that moderate-late preterm birth after antenatal betamethasone does not impair metabolic outcomes in progeny, and increased expression of insulin signalling pathway genes. These findings suggest that the increased risk of type 2 diabetes in humans born preterm may not be due to preterm birth itself.

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