Determinants of cord blood adipokines and association with neonatal abdominal adipose tissue distribution

Fabian Yap,Anis Larbi,Navin Michael,Yung Seng Lee,Marielle V Fortier,Kok Hian Tan,Shiao-Yng Chan,Mya Thway Tint,Neerja Karnani,Karen Tan,Keith M Godfrey,Johan G Eriksson,Yap Seng Chong

doi:10.1038/s41366-021-00975-3

Abstract

BackgroundCord blood leptin and adiponectin are adipokines known to be associated with birth weight and overall infant adiposity. However, few studies have investigated their associations with abdominal adiposity in neonates. We examined maternal factors associated with cord blood leptin and adiponectin, and the association of these adipokines with neonatal adiposity and abdominal fat distribution measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an Asian mother–offspring cohort.MethodsGrowing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO), is a prospective mother–offspring birth cohort study in Singapore. Cord blood plasma leptin and adiponectin concentrations were measured using Luminex and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay respectively in 816 infants. A total of 271 neonates underwent MRI within the first 2-weeks after delivery. Abdominal superficial (sSAT), deep subcutaneous (dSAT), and intra-abdominal (IAT) adipose tissue compartment volumes were quantified from MRI images. Multivariable regression analyses were performed.ResultsIndian or Malay ethnicity, female sex, and gestational age were positively associated with cord blood leptin and adiponectin concentrations. Maternal gestational diabetes (GDM) positively associated with cord blood leptin concentrations but inversely associated with cord blood adiponectin concentrations. Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) showed a positive relationship with cord blood leptin but not with adiponectin concentrations. Each SD increase in cord blood leptin was associated with higher neonatal sSAT, dSAT and IAT; differences in SD (95% CI): 0.258 (0.142, 0.374), 0.386 (0.254, 0.517) and 0.250 (0.118, 0.383), respectively. Similarly, each SD increase in cord blood adiponectin was associated with higher neonatal sSAT and dSAT; differences in SD (95% CI): 0.185 (0.096, 0.274) and 0.173 (0.067, 0.278), respectively. The association between cord blood adiponectin and neonatal adiposity was observed in neonates of obese mothers only.ConclusionsCord blood leptin and adiponectin concentrations were associated with ethnicity, maternal BMI and GDM, sex and gestational age. Both adipokines showed positive association with neonatal abdominal adiposity.

Highlights

Adipokines are hormones secreted by adipocytes and suggested to play important roles in energy homeostasis and cell metabolism [1]
Female sex and longer gestation were associated with higher cord blood leptin and adiponectin concentrations
Indian and Malay neonates had higher cord blood leptin concentrations compared to Chinese neonates, while Malay neonates had higher cord blood adiponectin concentrations compared to Chinese neonates

Summary

Introduction

Adipokines are hormones secreted by adipocytes and suggested to play important roles in energy homeostasis and cell metabolism [1]. A peptide hormone produced by adipocytes in proportion to their triglyceride content, connects fat stores with the central control of energy balance [2]. Many studies have shown positive associations of cord blood leptin and birth weight [5,6,7,8,9,10]. Maternal characteristics, such as obesity [7], smoking [10] and glucose concentrations [11], have been associated with increased cord

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