Cord blood nesfatin-1 in large for gestational age pregnancies

Abstract Objective To investigate possible alterations in cord blood levels of adipokine nesfatin-1 (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. Materials and methods Cord blood nesfatin-1 and insulin concentrations were prospectively measured in 40 LGA (9 born from diabetic and 31 from non-diabetic mothers) and 20 AGA singleton full-term infants as well as their mothers. Results Cord blood nesfatin-1 concentrations were significantly lower in LGA compared to AGA neonates ( b  = −0.206, SE 0.07, p  = 0.005). However, cord blood nesfatin-1 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  = 0.190, SE 0.10, p  = 0.05). Finally, cord blood nesfatin-1 concentrations were lower in cases of vaginal delivery ( b  = 0.11, SE 0.05, p  = 0.042). Insulin levels were significantly elevated, as customized centiles increased ( b  = 0.004, SE = 0.002, p  = 0.016). No significant correlation was found between insulin and nesfatin-1 in maternal and umbilical cord levels. Conclusions In this study nesfatin-1 levels are decreased in LGA compared to AGA fetuses. Fetal nesfatin-1 concentrations are higher in cases of GDM and cord blood nesfatin-1 concentrations are lower in cases of vaginal delivery.