Cord blood adipokines, neonatal anthropometrics and postnatal growth in offspring of Hispanic and Native American women with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

BackgroundOffspring of women with diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy have a risk of developing metabolic disease in adulthood greater than that conferred by genetics alone. The mechanisms responsible are unknown, but likely involve fetal exposure to the in utero milieu, including glucose and circulating adipokines. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of maternal DM on fetal adipokines and anthropometry in infants of Hispanic and Native American women.MethodsWe conducted a prospective study of offspring of mothers with normoglycemia (Con-O; n = 79) or type 2 or gestational DM (DM-O; n = 45) pregnancies. Infant anthropometrics were measured at birth and 1-month of age. Cord leptin, high-molecular-weight adiponectin (HMWA), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and C-peptide were measured by ELISA. Differences between groups were assessed using the Generalized Linear Model framework. Correlations were calculated as standardized regression coefficients and adjusted for significant covariates.ResultsDM-O were heavier at birth than Con-O (3.7 ± 0.6 vs. 3.4 ± 0.4 kg, p = 0.024), but sum of skinfolds (SSF) were not different. At 1-month, there was no difference in weight, SSF or % body fat or postnatal growth between groups. Leptin was higher in DM-O (20.1 ± 14.9 vs. 9.5 ± 9.9 ng/ml in Con-O, p < 0.0001). Leptin was positively associated with birth weight (p = 0.0007) and SSF (p = 0.002) in Con-O and with maternal hemoglobin A1c in both groups (Con-O, p = 0.023; DM-O, p = 0.006). PEDF was positively associated with birth weight in all infants (p = 0.004). Leptin was positively associated with PEDF in both groups, with a stronger correlation in DM-O (p = 0.009). At 1-month, HMWA was positively associated with body weight (p = 0.004), SSF (p = 0.025) and % body fat (p = 0.004) across the cohort.ConclusionsMaternal DM results in fetal hyperleptinemia independent of adiposity. HMWA appears to influence postnatal growth. Thus, in utero exposure to DM imparts hormonal differences on infants even without aberrant growth.

An examination of sex differences in associations between cord blood adipokines and childhood adiposity

“…In non‐stratified analyses, cord blood adiponectin has been positively associated with the SSF/TSF ratio at age 3 in Project Viva, with body composition at age 3 in twins and with fat mass at 2 weeks but not 3 months in offspring of African American women . In addition, authors of a study in Oklahoma reported that cord blood levels of high molecular weight adiponectin were positively associated with three measures of adiposity (SSF, body weight and percent fat) in male and female infants at 1 month of age . Null findings between adiponectin and multiple anthropometric measures (eg, BMI z‐score and fat mass) have also been observed at age 9 and age 5 .…”

Effects of maternal diabetes and fetal sex on human placenta mitochondrial biogenesis

“…Mothers and offspring were enrolled into a prospective longitudinal study on the impact of in utero exposure to diabetes, as previously described [27]. Gestational and type 2 diabetes in the mothers was diagnosed according to ADA guidelines [28].…”

Adding Multiple Adipokines into the Model do not Improve Weight Gain Prediction by Leptin Levels in Newborns

“…Adiponectin and leptin are factors known to influence normal and abnormal fetal growth (10,11,12). Low adiponectin concentrations have been reported in adults and in infants who were born small for gestational age, linking growth restriction with a cardiometabolic profile later in life (13).…”