Cord IGF-I concentrations in Indian newborns: associations with neonatal body composition and maternal determinants
A S Wiley1, H G Lubree2, S M Joshi2
1Anthropology Department and Human Biology Program, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
Insights
Indian newborns exhibiting a
Area of Science:
- Neonatal growth and development
- Endocrinology
- Maternal-fetal medicine
Background:
- Indian newborns are characterized by a 'thin-fat' phenotype, differing from European infants.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) in this phenotype.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine cord blood IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in Indian newborns.
- To investigate the association between these factors and neonatal adiposity.
- To explore relationships with maternal characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 146 pregnant mothers.
- Measurements of maternal diet, anthropometry, and biochemistry at 28 and 34 weeks gestation.
- Assessment of neonatal anthropometry and cord blood IGF-I/IGFBP-3 at birth.
Main Results:
- Cord IGF-I levels positively correlated with neonatal adiposity markers, particularly sum-of-skin-folds.
- Maternal milk intake during gestation was associated with higher cord IGF-I.
- IGFBP-3 showed weaker correlations with neonatal adiposity and maternal factors.
Conclusions:
- Cord IGF-I concentration is linked to increased neonatal adiposity in Indian newborns.
- Maternal milk intake may influence fetal growth and neonatal adiposity via IGF-I pathways.
Background:
Indian newborns have been described as 'thin-fat' compared with European babies, but little is known about how this phenotype relates to the foetal growth factor IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor I) or its binding protein IGFBP-3.
Objective:
To assess cord IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations in a sample of Indian newborns and evaluate their associations with neonatal adiposity and maternal factors.
Methods:
A prospective cohort study of 146 pregnant mothers with dietary, anthropometric and biochemical measurements at 28 and 34 weeks gestation. Neonatal weight, length, skin-folds, circumferences, and cord blood IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were measured at birth.
Results:
Average cord IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were 46.6 (2.2) and 1269.4 (41) ng mL(-1) , respectively. Girls had higher mean IGF-I than boys (51.4 ng mL(-1) vs. 42.9 ng mL(-1) ; P < 0.03), but IGFBP-3 did not differ. Cord IGF-I was positively correlated with all birth size measures except length, and most strongly with neonatal sum-of-skin-folds (r = 0.50, P < 0.001). IGFBP-3 was positively correlated with ponderal index, sum-of-skin-folds and placenta weight (r = 0.21, 0.19, 0.16, respectively; P < 0.05). Of maternal demographic and anthropometric characteristics, only parity was correlated with cord IGF-I (r = 0.27, P < 0.001). Among dietary behaviours, maternal daily milk intake at 34 weeks gestation predicted higher cord IGF-I compared to no-milk intake (51.8 ng mL(-1) vs. 36.5 ng mL(-1) , P < 0.01) after controlling for maternal characteristics, placental weight, and newborn gestational age, sex, weight and sum-of-skin-folds. Sum-of-skin-folds were positively associated with cord IGF-I in this multivariate model (57.3 ng mL(-1) vs. 35.1 ng mL(-1) for highest and lowest sum-of skin-fold quartile, P < 0.001). IGFBP-3 did not show significant relationships with these covariates.
Conclusion:
In this Indian study, cord IGF-I concentration was associated with greater adiposity among newborns. Maternal milk intake may play a role in this relationship.
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