This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints, Permissions and Rights Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koistinen, H. A. Articles by Teramo, K. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Koistinen, H. A. Articles by Teramo, K. A.

Leptin Concentration in Cord Blood Correlates with Intrauterine Growth¹

Departments of Medicine (H.A.K., V.A.K., K.K., L.O.), Pediatrics (S.A.), Obstetrics and Gynecology (S.A., K.A.T.), and Clinical Chemistry (S.-L.K.), Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Heikki Koistinen, M.D., Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, SF-00290 Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: heikki.koistinen{at}helsinki.fi

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived peptide hormone regulating energy balance in experimental animals. Although the physiological function of leptin in humans is still unclear, its secretion is closely related to fat mass in adult humans. To examine how fetal growth correlates with leptin levels at birth, an umbilical cord venous blood sample was obtained at the delivery from 50 term newborn infants. Twenty-eight of the newborn infants had birth weights appropriate for gestational age (AGA; mean ± SEM, 3362 ± 90 g; relative birth weight, -0.08 ± 0.2 SD), 9 were large for gestational age (birth weight, 4655 ± 165 g; relative birth weight, 3.2 ± 0.3 SD; P < 0.001 vs. AGA newborn infants), and 13 were small for gestational age (SGA; birth weight, 2385 ± 69 g; relative birth weight, -2.2 ± 0.08 SD; P < 0.001 vs. AGA newborn infants). Leptin concentrations were higher in large for gestational age (35.7 ± 8.0 µg/L; P < 0.005), but lower in SGA (3.3 ± 0.5 µg/L; P < 0.001) than in AGA infants (14.5 ± 2.8 µg/L). When adjusted for differences in body weight, mean leptin levels were similar in the three newborn groups. Leptin concentration correlated closely with both absolute and relative birth weights (r = 0.71; P < 0.001 in both), with cord blood insulin concentration (r = 0.67; P < 0.001), and with placental weight (r = 0.60; P < 0.001). These data suggest that leptin is synthesized in utero, and that the circulating leptin concentration relates to the intrauterine growth pattern.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. H. Fasting, E. Oken, C. S. Mantzoros, J. W. Rich-Edwards, J. A. Majzoub, K. Kleinman, S. L. Rifas-Shiman, T. Vik, and M. W. Gillman Maternal Levels of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone during Pregnancy in Relation to Adiponectin and Leptin in Early Childhood J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2009; 94(4): 1409 - 1415. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. D Briana and A. Malamitsi-Puchner Intrauterine growth restriction and adult disease: the role of adipocytokines Eur. J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2009; 160(3): 337 - 347. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. F. M. Wouters, K. H. Groenewegen, M. A. Dentener, and J. H. J. Vernooy Systemic Inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Role of Exacerbations Proceedings of the ATS, December 1, 2007; 4(8): 626 - 634. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Dabelea The Predisposition to Obesity and Diabetes in Offspring of Diabetic Mothers Diabetes Care, July 1, 2007; 30(Supplement_2): S169 - S174. [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. C. McMillen, C. L. Adam, and B. S. Muhlhausler Early origins of obesity: programming the appetite regulatory system J. Physiol., May 15, 2005; 565(1): 9 - 17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. C. Mcmillen and J. S. Robinson Developmental Origins of the Metabolic Syndrome: Prediction, Plasticity, and Programming Physiol Rev, April 1, 2005; 85(2): 571 - 633. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Tenhola, P. Halonen, J. Jaaskelainen, and R. Voutilainen Serum markers of GH and insulin action in 12-year-old children born small for gestational age Eur. J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2005; 152(3): 335 - 340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Collinson, S. Moore, M. O'Connell, C. Charalambos, and A. Prentice Developmental changes in leptin as a measure of energy status in human infants in a natural ecologic setting Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2005; 81(2): 488 - 494. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Kind, C. T. Roberts, A. I. Sohlstrom, A. Katsman, P. M. Clifton, J. S. Robinson, and J. A. Owens Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, January 1, 2005; 288(1): R119 - R126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. S. Muhlhausler, C. T. Roberts, B. S. J. Yuen, E. Marrocco, H. Budge, M. E. Symonds, J. R. McFarlane, K. G. Kauter, P. Stagg, J. K. Pearse, et al. Determinants of Fetal Leptin Synthesis, Fat Mass, and Circulating Leptin Concentrations in Well-Nourished Ewes in Late Pregnancy Endocrinology, November 1, 2003; 144(11): 4947 - 4954. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Yajnik, H. G. Lubree, S. S. Rege, S. S. Naik, J. A. Deshpande, S. S. Deshpande, C. V. Joglekar, and J. S. Yudkin Adiposity and Hyperinsulinemia in Indians Are Present at Birth J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2002; 87(12): 5575 - 5580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Simmons and B. H. Breier Fetal Overnutrition in Polynesian Pregnancies and in Gestational Diabetes May Lead to Dysregulation of the Adipoinsular Axis in Offspring Diabetes Care, September 1, 2002; 25(9): 1539 - 1544. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B.S.J. Yuen, P.C. Owens, J.R. McFarlane, M.E. Symonds, L.J. Edwards, K.G. Kauter, and I.C. McMillen Circulating Leptin Concentrations Are Positively Related to Leptin Messenger RNA Expression in the Adipose Tissue of Fetal Sheep in the Pregnant Ewe Fed at or Below Maintenance Energy Requirements During Late Gestation Biol Reprod, September 1, 2002; 67(3): 911 - 916. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B.S. Muhlhausler, C.T. Roberts, J.R. McFarlane, K.G. Kauter, and I.C. McMillen Fetal Leptin Is a Signal of Fat Mass Independent of Maternal Nutrition in Ewes Fed at or above Maintenance Energy Requirements Biol Reprod, August 1, 2002; 67(2): 493 - 499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T K Hytinantti, M Juntunen, H A Koistinen, V A Koivisto, S-L Karonen, and S Andersson Postnatal changes in concentrations of free and bound leptin Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., September 1, 2001; 85(2): F123 - 126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Laml, O. Preyer, I. Schulz-Lobmeyr, E. Ruecklinger, B. W. Hartmann, and P. Wagenbichler Umbilical Venous Leptin Concentration and Gender in Newborns Reproductive Sciences, April 1, 2001; 8(2): 94 - 97. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. A. Dennery The Biology of Heme Oxygenase During Development NeoReviews, March 1, 2001; 2(3): e67 - 73. [Full Text]

				H. Christou, J. M. Connors, M. Ziotopoulou, V. Hatzidakis, E. Papathanassoglou, S. A. Ringer, and C. S. Mantzoros Cord Blood Leptin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Levels are Independent Predictors of Fetal Growth J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2001; 86(2): 935 - 938. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. Laml, B. W. Hartmann, E. Ruecklinger, O. Preyer, G. Soeregi, and P. Wagenbichler Maternal Serum Leptin Concentrations Do Not Correlate With Cord Blood Leptin Concentrations in Normal Pregnancy Reproductive Sciences, January 1, 2001; 8(1): 43 - 47. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Linnemann, A. Malek, R. Sager, W. F. Blum, H. Schneider, and C. Fusch Leptin Production and Release in the Dually in VitroPerfused Human Placenta J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2000; 85(11): 4298 - 4301. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. C. Henson and V. D. Castracane Leptin in Pregnancy Biol Reprod, November 1, 2000; 63(5): 1219 - 1228. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. Hytinantti, H. A Koistinen, V. A Koivisto, S.-L. Karonen, E.-M. Rutanen, S. Andersson;, A. BEREZIN, and M. MELO Increased leptin concentration in preterm infants of pre-eclamptic mothers Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., July 1, 2000; 83(1): 13F - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. Tarquini, R. Tarquini, F. Perfetto, G. Cornélissen, and F. Halberg Genetic and Environmental Influences on Human Cord Blood Leptin Concentration Pediatrics, May 1, 1999; 103(5): 998 - 1006. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. F. Clapp III and W. Kiess Cord Blood Leptin Reflects Fetal Fat Mass Reproductive Sciences, November 1, 1998; 5(6): 300 - 303. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. Shimon, X. Yan, D. A. Magoffin, T. C. Friedman, and S. Melmed Intact Leptin Receptor Is Selectively Expressed in Human Fetal Pituitary and Pituitary Adenomas and Signals Human Fetal Pituitary Growth Hormone Secretion J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 1998; 83(11): 4059 - 4064. [Abstract] [Full Text]