Objective To compare the metabolic status of preschool singleton children conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART) with naturally conceived (NC) singleton children, so as to provide evidence for the health management of ART-conceived children. Methods A total of 70 ART-conceived singleton children aged 36 - 72 months who underwent physical examination at the Dalian Women and Children's Medical Group from January 2023 to January 2025 were enrolled, and 70 age-matched NC singleton children were included at a 1∶1 ratio during the same period. Parental demographics, perinatal information, and the children's feeding and dietary habits were collected. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference) and blood pressure were assessed. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels were measured. Multiple linear regression models were employed to adjust for potential confounding factors, including dietary habits and parental body mass index (BMI). Results Parents in the ART group had significantly older reproductive ages and lower gestational weight gain than those in the NC group (t=6.761, 6.032,-2.329, P<0.05). After adjustment for confounding factors, there were no statistically significant differences in body weight, height, body mass index, or blood pressure between the two groups (P>0.05). However, waist circumference was significantly greater in the ART group than in the NC group (β=2.022, P<0.05). After adjustment, TG and ApoB levels remained significantly higher in the ART group(β=0.104,0.038), while HDL-C and ApoA1 levels were significantly lower than those in the NC group (β=-0.298,-0.105,P<0.05). No significant differences were found in TC, LDL-C, FBG, FINS, or HOMA-IR between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the detection rates of abnormal blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or impaired blood glucose between the two groups (P>0.05). The detection rate of overweight/obesity was significantly higher in the ART group than in the NC group (Z=-2.233, P<0.05). Conclusions Preschool singleton children conceived by ART exhibit differences in several blood lipid parameters, including TG, HDL-C, ApoB, and ApoA1. However, these differences do not increase the risk of dyslipidemia. Increased waist circumference and a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity are observed in ART-conceived children, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring of nutritional and metabolic status in this population to prevent obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Key words
assisted reproductive technology /
singleton children /
preschool age /
metabolic status
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