Differences in omentin-1 levels in term newborns according to birth weight

Adipokines are produced by adipose tissue and are involved in metabolic processes. Omentin-1 is an adipokine that has been shown in vitro to possibly be involved in insulin sensitivity modulation. The prenatal stage is a crucial period for development of metabolic diseases in the long term, therefore, small (SGA) and large (LGA) for gestational age newborns have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome later in life.

To evaluate the differences in omentin-1 concentrations in umbilical cord blood from healthy term newborns according to birth weight and explore the association between omentin-1 and anthropometry, glucose, insulin and insulin sensitivity.

This was a secondary analysis of stored umbilical cord blood of term newborns.

Newborns classified according to birth weight as SGA (n = 30), adequate for gestational age (AGA) (n = 12) and LGA (n = 34).

An analysis of omentin-1, glucose and insulin were performed.

Differences were found in serum omentin-1 levels (ng/mL) between SGA 328.17 ± 108.04, AGA 253.05 ± 98.25 and LGA 250.91 ± 100.48 (p = 0.009). In the linear regression analysis, the independent variables HOMA-IR, QUICK-I and FGIR were predictors of serum omentin-1 levels (r = 0.175, p = 0.003).

Omentin-1 cord blood levels have a differentiated behavior according to weight for gestational age with LGA newborns having lower levels and SGA newborns higher levels. HOMA-IR, QUICK-I and FGIR weakly predicted omentin-1 in cord blood, suggesting that omentin-1 possibly has an implication in insulin sensitivity since birth.