Maternal Leptin Predicts Adiposity of the Neonate

Abstract

Background: Increased adiposity at birth may identify infants at high risk of developing obesity. Maternal obesity and hyperglycemia in pregnancy are associated with increased neonatal adiposity; however, features of maternal obesity that contribute to increased neonatal adiposity need further study. Aims: To measure adiposity in neonates of obese and normal-weight women without gestational diabetes to test the hypothesis that obese women have neonates with increased adiposity compared to neonates of normal-weight women. Methods: Sixty-one pregnant women, with a normal or obese BMI, and their neonates participated in this cross-sectional study at an academic medical center. Neonatal adiposity, expressed as percent body fat (fat mass/body mass), was measured by air displacement plethysmography and cord blood was assayed for biomarkers. Results: Adiposity in neonates of obese and normal-weight mothers did not differ. Stratifying mothers by leptin level showed that neonates born to mothers with higher leptin had significantly higher adiposity (13.2 vs. 11.1%, p = 0.035). In the entire cohort, adiposity positively correlated with cord blood leptin (r = 0.48, p < 0.001) and adiponectin (r = 0.27, p = 0.04) levels. Conclusion: Obesity in normoglycemic pregnant women was not associated with increased neonatal adiposity. High maternal leptin levels identified neonates with increased adiposity.

Relation between fetal anthropometric parameters and cord blood adiponectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in gestational diabetes mellitus

“…Another study suggested a reverse correlation between PI and adiponectin concentration (11,25). Some studies have shown a positive correlation between adiponectin concentration and birth weight (8,12,14,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), but few have failed to find a significant correlation (9,15). The current study found a positive correlation between adiponectin concentration and gestational age in the GDM group although there was no such correlation in the NGT group.…”

“…Genes for lipid metabolism and those for inflammatory pathways are upregulated in the placenta of women with GDM (2). This upregulation increases or unbalances production of inflammatory cytokines and energy metabolism regulatory cytokines such as adipokines (2,6,7), which increases adiposity at birth (8,9) and predisposes the newborn to become overweight and develop metabolic diseases such as impaired glucose tolerance, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease (2,(6)(7)(8). Previous studies have focused on the pathophysiologic pathways and cytokine levels in GDM and their possible effect on offspring comorbidities later in life (1,6,7,10).…”

“…In adults, adiponectin concentration is inversely related to adiposity, but its association with adiposity is poorly understood (9,11,13). Some studies indicate a positive correlation between cord plasma adiponectin concentration and adiposity in infants (8,12,14,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) and some have found no significant correlation (9,15).…”

The effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids intake during pregnancy on adiposity of healthy full-term offspring at birth

“…This study has two strong points that should be emphasized: the assessment of adiposity at birth by measuring the %FM using Maternal LCPUFA intake on offspring adiposity L Pereira-da-Silva et al ADP, as a reliable and precise method with recent increasing use; 16,17,26,27 and the assessment of the effect of maternal LCPUFA intake on the body composition at birth adjusted for three major maternal nutrition cofactors (prepregnancy BMI, energy and macronutrient intakes during pregnancy, and GWG).…”

Associations of Maternal Leptin with Neonatal Adiposity Differ according to Pregravid Weight

“…Only 2 studies have investigated the association between maternal leptin and neonatal adiposity [9,10]. They had opposing conclusions, leaving the question about leptin's role as a contributor to fetal adiposity wide open.…”