title: Cord blood FGF21 in gestational diabetes and its relationship with postnatal growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study whether FGF21 was present in cord blood and explore its relationship with maternal variables and postnatal growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 157 pregnant women at the beginning of the third trimester; 79 with gestational diabetes (GDM), 78 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), and their offspring. Glucose metabolism was assessed by oral glucose tolerance test. Insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis model assessment index-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). FGF21 was determined in maternal plasma drawn at recruitment and in cord blood obtained at delivery. Offspring weight and height was assessed at birth and at 12, 24 and 48 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal FGF21 was higher in gestational diabetes than in the normal glucose-tolerant group, whereas similar cord blood FGF21 levels were observed in both groups. Lower cord blood FGF21 was strongly positively correlated with maternal circulating levels. This relationship was independent of mother's prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), glucose levels and HOMA-IR. Although maternal FGF21 levels were correlated with prepregnancy BMI and HOMA-IR index, no relationship was observed between FGF21 and birth weight. However, cord blood FGF21 levels were correlated with BMI Zeta Score at 12 and 24 months, and this relationship became stronger when only the NGT group was analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FGF21 is present in human cord blood, and its levels are closely correlated with maternal levels. The association observed between cord blood FGF21 and postnatal BMI may suggest a potential role during intrauterine life that may influence future metabolic imbalance.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nutrition Section, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Institut Investigació Sanitaria Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/Dr. Mallafré Guasch, 4, 43007, Tarragona, Spain, ana.megia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Megia
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gil-Lluis
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Näf
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ceperuelo-Mallafré
authors.forename: Jose Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Clemente
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Llauradó
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nuñez-Roa
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballesteros
authors.forename: Rosa Elena
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Yañez
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández-Veledo
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vendrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors