title: Maternal adipokines and insulin as biomarkers of pregnancies complicated by overweight and obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal obesity is associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study was conducted aiming to evaluate maternal levels of adipokines and insulin in pregnancies complicated by overweight and obesity and its correlations with maternal and fetal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 72 mother-newborn pairs. Mothers were classified as having normal weight (n = 23), overweight (n = 18), and obesity (n = 31). Maternal adiponectin, leptin, resistin and insulin levels at the end of pregnancy were compared among groups and correlated with maternal and perinatal outcomes. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and correlation tests, with a p value <0.05 being considered as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obese pregnant women showed higher leptin levels (p = 0.0021). Leptin levels were positively correlated with prepregnancy body mass index-BMI (r = 0.57), gestational (37 or 38 weeks of gestation) BMI (r = 0.39), hypertension (r = 0.27), and hyperglycemia (r = 0.30), and negatively associated with newborns' abdominal circumference (r = -0.25). Adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with gestational BMI (r = -0.29) and newborns' cephalic circumference (r = -0.27) and positively correlated with birth weight (r = 0.23). Insulin concentrations correlated positively with prepregnancy BMI (r = 0.38), gestational BMI (r = 0.24) and maternal hyperglycemia (r = 0.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support the relationship between markers of obesity and maternal-fetal outcomes. Maternal insulin and adipokines levels showed an independent relationship with mother and newborns outcomes, respectively. In this studied population, the results indirectly reinforce the importance of maternal weight control before and during pregnancy to avoid adverse outcomes to mother and their newborns.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mastology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University/UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo Brazil.
authors.forename: Joice Monaliza
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vernini
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mastology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University/UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo Brazil.
authors.forename: Jusciéle Brogin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Moreli
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University/UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Antônio Araújo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mastology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University/UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo Brazil ; Bauru's Diabetics Association, Internal Medicine, Bauru, São Paulo Brazil ; Faculty of Medicine of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, District Rubião Jr. s / n, Botucatu, São Paulo, CEP 18618-000 Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Antonio
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Negrato
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mastology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University/UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo Brazil ; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University/UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilza Vieira Cunha
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rudge
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mastology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University/UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo Brazil ; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University/UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo Brazil ; Faculty of Medicine of Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, District Rubião Jr. s / n, Botucatu, São Paulo, CEP 18618-000 Brazil.
authors.forename: Iracema Mattos Paranhos
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Calderon
keywords: Adipokines; Hyperglycemia; Insulin resistance; Obesity; Pregnancy