OBJECTIVE
To investigate possible alterations in cord blood levels of adipokine <em>nesfatin</em>-<em>1</em> (secreted by adipose tissue and pancreatic β-cells and implicated in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance), as well as insulin, in large (LGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies, granted that these groups differ in body fat mass and metabolic/endocrine mechanisms.
METHODS
Cord blood <em>nesfatin</em>-<em>1</em> and insulin concentrations were prospectively measured in 40 LGA (9 born from diabetic and 3<em>1</em> from non-diabetic mothers) and 20 AGA singleton full-term infants as well as their mothers.
RESULTS
Cord blood <em>nesfatin</em>-<em>1</em> concentrations were significantly lower in LGA compared to AGA neonates (b=-0.206, SE 0.07, p=0.005). However, cord blood <em>nesfatin</em>-<em>1</em> concentrations were elevated in infants born from mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), compared to those born from non-diabetic mothers, after controlling for group (b=0.<em>1</em>90, SE 0.<em>1</em>0, p=0.05). Finally, cord blood <em>nesfatin</em>-<em>1</em> concentrations were lower in cases of vaginal delivery (b=0.<em>1</em><em>1</em>, SE 0.05, p=0.042). Insulin levels were significantly elevated, as customized centiles increased (b=0.004, SE=0.002, p=0.0<em>1</em>6). No significant correlation was found between insulin and <em>nesfatin</em>-<em>1</em> in maternal and umbilical cord levels.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study <em>nesfatin</em>-<em>1</em> levels are decreased in LGA compared to AGA fetuses. Fetal <em>nesfatin</em>-<em>1</em> concentrations are higher in cases of GDM and cord blood <em>nesfatin</em>-<em>1</em> concentrations are lower in cases of vaginal delivery.