Does maternal smoking influence leptin levels in term, appropriate-for-gestational-age newborns?
OBJECTIVE
Leptin, a hormone produced in adipose tissue and the placenta, is correlated with neonatal growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on cord blood leptin concentrations in term, appropriate-for-gestational-age infants.


METHODS
Two groups of term, appropriate-for-gestational-age newborns were selected: 19 infants of smoking mothers and 91 infants of non-smoking mothers. Neonatal anthropometric measurements were taken and leptin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Leptin concentrations were similar (p=0.915) between the groups. Leptin levels correlated only with ponderal index (p < 0.01) and gestational age of the newborns (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that maternal smoking during pregnancy does not affect cord blood leptin levels in term, appropriate-for-gestational-age infants.
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Campinas-UNICAMP, Rua Souza Pereira 138, São Paulo 18010-320, Brazil.
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Pardo
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Geloneze
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Tambascia
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Barros-Filho
D000886:Anthropometry; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*
D020738:Leptin