High Maternal and Low Cord Blood Leptin Are Associated with BMI-SDS Gain in the First Year of Life

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Early infant weight development influences metabolic regulation later in life. For the prevention of obesity and metabolic diseases, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms in detail. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> This study aims to examine the effects of maternal anthropometric, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors on maternal and cord blood leptin levels at birth and on the development of body mass index (BMI) standard deviation scores (SDS) in offspring up to 1 year of age. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Seventy-six mother-child pairs were enrolled in this follow-up analysis in a cross-sectional design. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect information regarding maternal anthropometrics, lifestyle habits, and sociodemographic conditions, and newborn weight, or, rather, BMI-SDS, development during the first year of life. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Cord blood leptin (β = –0.222, <i>p</i> = 0.074), maternal leptin (β = 0.414, <i>p</i> = 0.001), and female sex of the offspring (β = 0.385, <i>p</i> = 0.003) explained 29.0% of the variance in BMI-SDS changes in the first year of life. Cord blood leptin was influenced by newborn sex (male; β = –0.220, <i>p</i> = 0.025) and maternal moderate-intensity physical activity in the third trimester (β = 0.265, <i>p</i> = 0.007, corr. <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 9.2%); maternal leptin was influenced by maternal prepregnancy BMI (β = 0.602, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and weight gain during pregnancy (β = 0.247, <i>p</i> = 0.004, corr. <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 35.5%). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Higher maternal and lower cord blood leptin levels are associated with a higher BMI-SDS increase during the first year of life. Maternal leptin is influenced by maternal BMI and weight gain during pregnancy, and cord blood leptin is influenced by maternal physical activity; therefore, it can be suggested that an active and healthy maternal lifestyle may play a pivotal and beneficial role in the offspring’s weight development.

Metabolic Health—The Role of Adipo-Myokines

“…We demonstrated that higher maternal and lower cord-blood leptin levels are associated with a higher BMI SDS increase during the first year of life. Maternal leptin is influenced by maternal BMI and weight gain during pregnancy, and cord-blood leptin is influenced by maternal physical activity [111]. These results are in line with findings by Simpson et al [115], who found that higher cord-blood leptin was associated with higher z-scores of fat mass, waist circumference, and BMI at nine years of age, although they did not take lifestyle factors such as physical activity into account.…”

“…According to Vicker et al [110], leptin is posited to exert programming effects on central and peripheral energy-regulating pathways during a critical period of fetal and infant development. Accordingly, several researchers [111,112] investigated leptin as a candidate prognostic biomarker for obesity risk in later life. It was documented that umbilical cord blood leptin levels are positively correlated with neonatal body weight and fat mass [113].…”

“…In a follow-up of a cross-sectional study with 76 mother-child pairs, our research group [111] examined the effects of maternal anthropometric, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors on maternal and cord-blood leptin levels at birth, and on the development of BMI standard deviation scores (SDS) in offspring up to one year of age. We demonstrated that higher maternal and lower cord-blood leptin levels are associated with a higher BMI SDS increase during the first year of life.…”

Resistin in pregnancy: Analysis of determinants in pairs of umbilical cord blood and maternal serum

“…This cross-sectional, prospective study was performed between December 2013 and April 2014 in the obstetric unit of a tertiary referral center. The study was part of a larger study, parts of which have been published [28] , [29] , [30] . Study design and consent forms were approved by the institutional ethics committee (number 269/13).…”

Temporal Leptin to Determine Cardiovascular and Metabolic Fate throughout the Life

“…Furthermore, these profiles are suggested to be associated with developmental programing in later life [ 41 , 42 ]. Because the degree of cord leptin is positively correlated with maternal leptin levels [ 18 , 23 , 36 , 43 ], and representative of fetal growth and newborn weight, adiposity, and BMI during pregnancy [ 17 , 18 , 23 , 26 , 36 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ], the levels of cord leptin (approximately 15 ± 16 ng/mL; [ 23 ]) are considered to be a key predictor of childhood cardiovascular and metabolic state. Cord leptin levels can be linked with birth weight of neonates from women with gestational obesity and/or diabetes mellitus as well [ 36 , 47 , 48 ].…”