Cord insulin and C‐peptide—distribution in an unselected population

Abstract

Objective To assess the distribution of cord blood insulin in an unselected population, and examine its relation to birthweight centiles. Setting District General Hospital in Nottinghamshire. Subjects 209 unselected singleton births. Mean Outcome Measure Cord blood insulin; cord blood C‐peptide; birthweight centiles. Results Hyperinsulinaemic babies (> 97th centile for cord insulin) were found at all birthweight centiles. 15% of high birthweight babies were hyperinsulinaemic. For low birthweight babies, the distribution of cord insulin/C‐peptide was skewed indicating a high number of low values. Hypoinsulinaemic babies were present up to the 50th centile for birthweight. Conclusions Abnormalities of fetal insulinisation may be found in babies of all birthweights.

Observational study of maternal anthropometry and fetal insulin

“…We observed a significant correlation between cord insulin and C peptide concentrations, which is similar to the study of Stanley et al 16. This is to be expected as they are secreted in equimolar amounts from β-cells.…”

Diabetes in pregnancy.

“…Our own work in this area is consistent with that of others and suggests that among unselected babies born over the 90th centile of weight for gestational age, about a quarter are hyperinsulinaemic and therefore at risk. 22 We have noted, however, that hyperinsulinaemia also occurs rarely in appropriate for gestational age newborns with no predisposing maternal history or glucose tolerance abnormality.…”

Impact of a Low Glycemic Index Diet in Pregnancy on Markers of Maternal and Fetal Metabolism and Inflammation

“…19 A major difficultly therefore lies in the identification of pregnancies that are going to result in pathological growth secondary to maternal metabolic derangements and that may therefore benefit from any dietary or lifestyle intervention prenatally.…”