Resistin in preterm and term newborns: relation to anthropometry, leptin, and insulin

This study aimed to investigate 1) the plasma resistin concentration at birth, 2) the relationship of resistin with leptin and insulin, and 3) the association of resistin with anthropometric indexes in newborn infants. Blood samples for hormonal assay were obtained from preterm and term newborns within the first 2 h of life and before milk feeding or energy intake. Although these infants required blood sampling for clinical reasons, all were proved to be noninfected. Plasma resistin was significantly higher in term than in preterm infants. It was also significantly correlated with serum leptin, and both hormones were significantly associated with gestational age and anthropometric indexes. Infants who were born vaginally were found to have significantly higher plasma resistin levels compared with those who were born by cesarean section. In the multivariate forward stepwise regression models, resistin was found to be significantly associated with the mode of delivery and gestational age or birth weight. The association among resistin, leptin, and anthropometric indexes suggested that both hormones might be gestation related. A high circulating resistin level at term gestation could be advantageous to the infant by promoting hepatic glucose production and preventing hypoglycemia after birth. Infants who were born vaginally had significantly higher plasma resistin levels, suggesting that this hormone might also be associated with stress or inflammation induced by the birth process.