Aims We aimed to examine the association between maternal adiposity and glucose metabolism in adult offspring without diabetes, simultaneous taking offspring own adiposity into account.

Methods This longitudinal birth cohort study (Helsinki Birth Cohort Study) included 1,440 non-diabetic subjects examined at a mean age of 62 years. Subjects were divided into quartiles according to maternal body mass index (BMI). The impact of maternal BMI on offspring body composition was also studied.

Results There were no differences in fasting glucose between the groups. In men, maternal BMI was inversely associated with mean 2-hour glucose concentration after a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (p<0.001) and mean homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p=0.049). According to the subjects’ own BMI, high maternal BMI was associated with lower 2-hour glucose concentrations only in non-obese men and with lower HOMA-IR only in obese men. Maternal BMI was not associated with glucose concentrations nor with HOMA-IR in women. In addition, maternal BMI was positively associated with a higher offspring lean body mass in men.

Conclusions High maternal BMI was associated with lower 2-hour plasma glucose concentration, especially in non-obese men. Offspring lean body mass may be a mediating factor for the association.