title: Adipokines in umbilical cord blood from children born large for gestational age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The etiology of childhood obesity and the associated morbidity is multifactorial. Recently, data suggesting a prenatal programming towards later childhood obesity and metabolic deregulation through the intrauterine environment has emerged. This study explored the concentrations of adipokines and their mutual relationship at birth in children born to non-diabetic mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adiponectin, leptin and sOB-R were measured using ELISA-based commercial kits in umbilical cord blood from 60 neonates (30 born large for gestational age [LGA] and 30 born appropriate for gestational age [AGA]). Children exposed to maternal diabetes, chronic disease and preeclampsia were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LGA group exhibited significantly elevated concentrations of leptin (p<0.001) and of free leptin index (p<0.001) and decreased sOB-R concentrations (p=0.005) when compared to the AGA group, which persisted in multiple regression analysis after taking the gestational age into account (p=0.048, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Only a trend towards a difference in adiponectin was demonstrated (p=0.057) regardless of adjustment (p=0.150). However, the leptin/adiponectin ratio was elevated in the LGA group (p=0.008), regardless of adjustment (p=0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate a disturbance of adipokines in macrosomic newborns and that the mutual ratios between adipokines may provide a more sensitive marker of metabolic disturbance than any isolated adipokine.
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lausten-Thomsen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Paula Louise
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hedley
authors.forename: Jens-Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Kjeld
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmiegelow
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D020738:Leptin