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Adipokines in umbilical cord blood from children born large for gestational age
Insights
Newborns who are large for gestational age (LGA) show altered levels of leptin and adiponectin. The leptin/adiponectin ratio may indicate metabolic disturbance in macrosomic infants.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neonatal Health
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Childhood obesity has complex causes, with emerging evidence for prenatal programming.
- The intrauterine environment may influence later obesity and metabolic issues.
- This study investigates adipokines at birth in relation to fetal growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore adipokine concentrations and their relationships at birth.
- To compare adipokine profiles in neonates with different birth weights (LGA vs. AGA).
- To assess potential prenatal programming of metabolic health.
Main Methods:
- Umbilical cord blood from 60 neonates (30 LGA, 30 AGA) was analyzed.
- Concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, and soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R) were measured via ELISA.
- Exclusion criteria included maternal diabetes, chronic disease, and preeclampsia.
Main Results:
- LGA neonates had significantly higher leptin and free leptin index, and lower sOB-R compared to AGA.
- A trend for adiponectin difference was observed, but not statistically significant.
- The leptin/adiponectin ratio was significantly elevated in the LGA group.
Conclusions:
- Macrosomic newborns exhibit disturbed adipokine profiles.
- Mutual adipokine ratios may be more sensitive markers of metabolic disturbance than individual adipokines.
- Findings suggest potential intrauterine influences on neonatal metabolic health.
Background:
The etiology of childhood obesity and the associated morbidity is multifactorial. Recently, data suggesting a prenatal programming towards later childhood obesity and metabolic deregulation through the intrauterine environment has emerged. This study explored the concentrations of adipokines and their mutual relationship at birth in children born to non-diabetic mothers.
Methods:
Adiponectin, leptin and sOB-R were measured using ELISA-based commercial kits in umbilical cord blood from 60 neonates (30 born large for gestational age [LGA] and 30 born appropriate for gestational age [AGA]). Children exposed to maternal diabetes, chronic disease and preeclampsia were excluded.
Results:
The LGA group exhibited significantly elevated concentrations of leptin (p<0.001) and of free leptin index (p<0.001) and decreased sOB-R concentrations (p=0.005) when compared to the AGA group, which persisted in multiple regression analysis after taking the gestational age into account (p=0.048, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Only a trend towards a difference in adiponectin was demonstrated (p=0.057) regardless of adjustment (p=0.150). However, the leptin/adiponectin ratio was elevated in the LGA group (p=0.008), regardless of adjustment (p=0.039).
Conclusion:
The data indicate a disturbance of adipokines in macrosomic newborns and that the mutual ratios between adipokines may provide a more sensitive marker of metabolic disturbance than any isolated adipokine.
