Association between serum adipocytokine and cholesterol levels in cord blood

Abstract

Serum leptin and adiponectin levels are strongly associated with lipid metabolism in adults. These adipocytokines play a role in intrauterine and postnatal growth but the association between cord blood levels of these adipocytokines and cholesterol at birth remains unclear. The study involved 52 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants (25 male, 27 female, 37-41 weeks of gestational age) born at Keiai Hospital without any maternal complications. Cord blood concentrations of leptin, total adiponectin, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), other neonatal characteristics, and maternal factors were assessed to investigate the association between cord blood leptin or adiponectin levels and cholesterol levels. Cord blood leptin levels were significantly higher in girls. Simple regression analysis indicated that cord blood leptin levels were significantly associated with birthweight, gestational age, birthweight SD score, body mass index (BMI), ponderal index, LDL-C, and TC; but total adiponectin levels were not significantly associated with any neonatal characteristics or maternal factors. A multiple regression analysis indicated that cord leptin levels were significantly associated with BMI (beta= 0.407, P= 0.001), LDL-C (beta=-0.345, P= 0.004), and infant's gender (beta=-0.332, P= 0.006); adiponectin levels were significantly associated with only gestational age (beta= 0.279, P= 0.047). Cord leptin level is significantly associated with cord cholesterol level at birth, anthropometry, and infant gender. The present study suggests that cord blood leptin may be a key hormone for controlling fetal lipid metabolism.