First trimester maternal BMI is a positive predictor of cord blood c-peptide levels while maternal visfatin levels is a negative predictor of birth weight.
OBJECTIVE
The role of first trimester maternal body mass index (BMI) and adipocytokines in cord blood c-peptide and birth weight in pregnancy was investigated.


METHODS
Seventy non-diabetic pregnant Caucasian women were recruited. Anthropometry and measurements of fasting adipocytokines (visfatin, leptin, adiponectin), insulin and glucose were performed in each of the three trimesters. At birth, birth weight and cord blood c-peptide, glucose, insulin, visfatin, leptin, adiponectin and IL6 in each neonate were measured.


RESULTS
First trimester maternal BMI correlated positively with cord blood c-peptide (p=0.035, r=0.74) and negatively with cord blood visfatin (p=0.049, r=-0.67). First trimester HOMAR was negatively correlated with cord blood visfatin (p=0.037, r=-0.90) and negatively with cord blood leptin (p=0.031, r=0.90). First trimester maternal BMI was a positive predictor of cord blood c-peptide (p=0.007). First trimester maternal visfatin levels were negative predictors of birth weight (p=0.017).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that first trimester maternal BMI and serum visfatin seem to be strongly associated with fetal insulin secretion and final birth weight, respectively, suggesting a role of early-pregnancy maternal adipose tissue in the pregnancy metabolic environment.
Endocrine Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens Medical School, Greece, Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospital Coventry and Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK.
Georgios
G
Valsamakis
Endocrine Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens Medical School, Greece.
Dimitrios C
DC
Papatheodorou
Division of Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Alexandra
A
Margeli
Endocrine Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens Medical School, Greece.
Vassilios
V
Bakoulas
Department of Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, Metropolitan Hospital; Athens, Greece.
Efthymios
E
Kapantais
Division of Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Ioannis
I
Papassotiriou
Endocrine Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens Medical School, Greece.
George
G
Creatsas
Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospital Coventry and Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK.
Sudhesh
S
Kumar
Endocrine Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens Medical School, Greece.
George
G
Mastorakos
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*
D052242:Adiponectin; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase