title: The impact of excessive maternal weight on the nutritional status of the fetus - the role of leptin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Assessment of leptin concentration in the blood of pregnant women (leptin concentration - Lc) and in their newborns, according to their nutritional status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women (n = 42) were divided into normal body mass (NBM) and excessive body mass (EBM) groups. Neonates were divided into AGA (eutrophic) and LGA (macrosomic) groups. Leptin concentraction was studied in 4 subgroups: NBM/AGA, NBM/LGA, EBM/AGA, EBM/LGA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers: A significant correlation was found between maternal Lc and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). Maternal Lc was 3 times higher than neonatal Lc (p < 0.00001). The NBM mothers showed lower Lc compared to EBM mothers (p = 0.000018). Leptin concentration values in NBM/LGA and NBM/AGA mothers were similar (p = 0.6775). Newborns: Correlations were found between Lc and ponderal index (PI) (r = 0.67, p < 0.001), weight (r = 0.43, p = 0.004) and placental weight (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Girls presented higher Lc than boys (p = 0.0338). In LGA groups, newborns born to EBM mothers presented higher Lc than those born to NBM mothers (p = 0.0013). In both AGA groups, Lc was similar (AGA/EBM vs. AGA/NBM p = 0.1619). The highest Lc and the largest placentas were found in the group of LGA newborns born to EBM mothers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leptin concentration positively correlates with BMI in pregnant women, with PI and female sex in newborns as well as with placental weight. The nutritional status of fetuses does not affect the Lc of their non-obese mothers. The LGA neonates born to EBM women demonstrate higher Lc than LGA neonates born to NBM mothers, whereas Lc of AGA neonates is similar regardless of the nutritional status of their mothers.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Lidia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Biesiada
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Głowacka
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krekora
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sobantka
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krokocka
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krasomski
keywords: large for gestational age newborn; leptin; maternal body mass index