PURPOSE:

To ascertain the association between umbilical cord levels of adiponectin, leptin and resistin, and birth weight (BW) and newborn weight change (NWC) in the first 96 h of life.

METHODS:

392 full-term singletons were recruited, in 2005/2006, at the five public units providing obstetrical and neonatal care in Porto. Information was collected by face-to-face interview and additionally from clinical records. Umbilical cord blood adipokines levels were determined and categorized using the 10th and 90th percentiles. Anthropometrics were obtained by trained examiners and NWC estimated as (weight - BW)/BW × 100, adjusted for newborn's age. Regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

RESULTS:

Low leptin levels (≤5.6 ng/ml) were associated with lower BW (β = -137.3 g 95%CI -268.6 g, -6.1 g) and high leptin levels (≥30.7 ng/ml) were associated with higher BW (β = 276.3 g 95%CI 145.8 g, 406.8 g) and higher NWC (β = 1.10% 95% CI 0.29%, 1.92%), comparing to newborns with normal leptin levels. Adiponectin and resistin were not associated with BW or NWC.

CONCLUSION:

High umbilical cord blood leptin levels predicted higher BW and lower weight loss in the immediate postnatal period.