Ethnic differences in the relationship between birth weight and type 2 diabetes mellitus in postmenopausal women. 

<br/><br/> AIM: The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between self-reported birth weight and the adult occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a large multi-ethnic population of women.  CONCLUSION: Lower birth weight was associated with increased T2D risk in American White and Black post-menopausal women.Copyright � 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.  METHODS: Baseline data from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study [n=75,993] was used to examine the association between participant birth weight category and prevalent type 2 diabetes mellitus. Models were adjusted for age, ethnicity, body mass index and other pertinent risk factors. Sub-analyses were performed stratifying by ethnicity.  RESULTS: There was a strong inverse association between birth weight and type 2 diabetes mellitus with a birth weight of <6 pounds (lbs) (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.33) significantly associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and a birth weight of >10 lbs (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.92) associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to women who reported their birth weight between 7 and 8 lbs 15 ounces (oz). Stratifying by ethnicity, the inverse association between birth weight and type 2 diabetes mellitus was only apparent in White women, but not Black, Hispanic or Asian women. 
<br/><br/><br/>English 
<br/><br/><label>ISSN: </label>1262-3636 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>*African Americans/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]<br/>*Asian Americans/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]<br/>*Birth Weight<br/>*Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/ep [Epidemiology]<br/>*European Continental Ancestry Group/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]<br/>*Hispanic Americans/sn [Statistics & Numerical Data]<br/>*Postmenopause<br/>Aged<br/>Aged, 80 and over<br/>Body Mass Index<br/>Cross-Sectional Studies<br/>Female<br/>Fetal Development<br/>Humans<br/>Middle Aged<br/>Prevalence<br/>Proportional Hazards Models<br/>Risk Factors<br/>United States/ep [Epidemiology]<br/>Women's Health
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Geographic Terms: </label><br/>MedStar Health Research Institute
<br/><br/><label>Index Terms--Function: </label><br/>Journal Article<br/>Observational Study<br/>Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural