title: Early retinol-binding protein levels are associated with growth changes in infants born to diabetic mothers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biochemical predictors of infants' growth changes are not available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We tested whether retinol-binding protein (RBP), docosahexaenoic acid and insulin (I) measured within 72 h from birth are associated with growth changes in infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six children, 32 born to diabetic mothers treated with insulin (GDM-I) and 24 born to diabetic mothers treated with diet (GDM-D), were evaluated at 0, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At multivariable regression performed using generalized estimating equations, early RBP levels and maternal body mass index were associated to average weight changes and early RBP and insulin levels to average length changes, respectively. There was no difference between GDM-I and GDM-D infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This exploratory study suggests that early RBP levels may be a predictor of growth changes.
authors.affiliation: Neonatology and NICU, Maternal and Child Department, Filippo Del Ponte Hospital, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Francescato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agosti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bedogni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pastò
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melzi d'Eril
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barassi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Risè
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agostoni
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids