Gestational glucose tolerance and cord blood leptin levels predict slower weight gain in early infancy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent to which known prenatal and perinatal predictors of childhood obesity also predict weight gain in early infancy.


METHODS
We studied 690 infants participating in the prospective cohort Project Viva. We measured length and weight at birth and at 6 months. Using multivariable linear regression, we examined relationships of selected maternal and infant factors with change in weight-for-length z-score (WFL-z) from 0 to 6 months.


RESULTS
Mean (standard deviation) change in WFL-z from 0 to 6 months was 0.23 (1.11), which translates to 4500 grams gained from birth to 6 months of life in an infant with average birth weight and length. After adjustment for confounding variables and birth weight-for-gestational age z-score (-0.28 [95% confidence interval, -0.37, -0.19] per unit), cord blood leptin (-0.40 [95%confidence interval, -0.61, -0.19] per 10 ng/mL), and gestational diabetes -0.50 [95%confidence interval, -0.88, -0.11] versus normal glucose tolerance)were each associated with slower gain in WFL-z from 0 to 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher neonatal leptin and gestational diabetes predicted slower weight gain in the first 6 months of life. The hormonal milieu of the intrauterine environment may determine growth patterns in early infancy and thus later obesity.
Parker
Margaret
M
Division of Newborn Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. margaret.parker@childrens.harvard.edu
Rifas-Shiman
Sheryl L
SL
Belfort
Mandy B
MB
Taveras
Elsie M
EM
Oken
Emily
E
Mantzoros
Christos
C
Gillman
Matthew W
MW
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D020738:Leptin