LEVELS OF CORD SERUM LEPTIN: RELATIONS TO BIRTH WEIGHT AND RELATIONS TO INSULIN AND CORTISOL

Zhang W-S, Bai X-Z, Mi Y, Li S-L

The First Medical College of Harbin Medical University, China

 

Objective: To determine the relationships between cord serum leptin levels and birth weights, and to investigate the relationships of leptin, insulin and cortisol.

Methods: Fifty-six normal newborns were studied, male 32 cases, female 24 cases. These newborns’ mean fetal age was 38.95±0.90 weeks and birth weight was 3.83±1.32kg. Cord blood was taken at delivery .The concentrations of cord serum leptin, insulin and cortisol were measured by radio-immunoassay.

Results: The average concentrations of leptin were 6.35±3.07µg/L, significantly correlated with birth weight (r=0.69, p<0.05), body mass index (BMI, r=0.35, p<0.05), chest circumference (r=0.42, p<0.005) and upper extremital circumference (r=0.43, p<0.005), but have no gender difference and no relation with maternal BMI. Cord leptin levels were negatively correlated with cortisol (32.75±16.63ng/ml, r =-0.33, p<0.05), but have no relation to insulin (124.15±57.54 µIU/ml).

Conclusion: Cord serum leptin levels were positively correlated with birth weight, BMI, chest circumference and upper extremital circumference of the newborns and negatively related with the levels of cortisol, but have no relation to insulin.

 
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