Cord C-peptide and insulin-like growth factor-I, birth weight, and placenta weight among North African and Belgian neonates.
OBJECTIVE
Despite their low socioeconomic status, infants of North African immigrants have been reported to have high birth weights in Belgium. The aim of the study was to further explore potential mechanisms explaining this high birth weight.


METHODS
Venous umbilical cord blood samples and perinatal characteristics of live-born infants from mothers of North African and Belgian nationality were collected in 1997 through 1998 at the University Hospital La Citadelle, Liège, Belgium.


RESULTS
The median connecting peptide (C-peptide) concentration was significantly higher among North African than Belgian neonates (0.125 vs 0.110 pmol/mL, P=.04). However, the median insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations among North African and Belgian newborn infants were, respectively, 74.0 and 69.6 ng/mL (P=.45). Nationality remained significantly associated with C-peptide after adjusting for age and parity. C-peptide, insulin-like growth factor-I correlated positively with birth weight and remained significant factors for birth weight after adjusting for confounders in multiple regression.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest a link between higher C-peptide levels and birth weights among North African neonates in Belgium.
Delvaux
Thérèse
T
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 155 Nationalestraat, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium. tdelvaux@itg.be
Buekens
Pierre
P
Thoumsin
Henri
H
Dramaix
Michèle
M
Collette
Julien
J
D000328:Adult; D000352:Africa, Northern / Q000208:ethnology; D001530:Belgium; D001724:Birth Weight; D044383:Black People; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012923:Social Class; D044465:White People
D002096:C-Peptide; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I