High Maternal and Low Cord Blood Leptin Are Associated with BMI-SDS Gain in the First Year of Life

Anna Telschow, Nina Ferrari, Clara Deibert, Anne Flöck, Waltraut M. Merz, Ulrich Gembruch, Christina Ehrhardt, Jörg Dötsch, Christine Graf

Publication: Contribution to journalJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Early infant weight development influences metabolic regulation later in life. For the prevention of obesity and metabolic diseases, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms in detail. Objectives: This study aims to examine the effects of maternal anthropometric, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors on maternal and cord blood leptin levels at birth and on the development of body mass index (BMI) standard deviation scores (SDS) in offspring up to 1 year of age. Methods: Seventy-six mother-child pairs were enrolled in this follow-up analysis in a cross-sectional design. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect information regarding maternal anthropometrics, lifestyle habits, and sociodemographic conditions, and newborn weight, or, rather, BMI-SDS, development during the first year of life. Results: Cord blood leptin (β = -0.222, p = 0.074), maternal leptin (β = 0.414, p = 0.001), and female sex of the offspring (β = 0.385, p = 0.003) explained 29.0% of the variance in BMI-SDS changes in the first year of life. Cord blood leptin was influenced by newborn sex (male; β = -0.220, p = 0.025) and maternal moderate-intensity physical activity in the third trimester (β = 0.265, p = 0.007, corr. R2 = 9.2%); maternal leptin was influenced by maternal prepregnancy BMI (β = 0.602, p <0.001) and weight gain during pregnancy (β = 0.247, p = 0.004, corr. R2 = 35.5%). Conclusions: Higher maternal and lower cord blood leptin levels are associated with a higher BMI-SDS increase during the first year of life. Maternal leptin is influenced by maternal BMI and weight gain during pregnancy, and cord blood leptin is influenced by maternal physical activity; therefore, it can be suggested that an active and healthy maternal lifestyle may play a pivotal and beneficial role in the offspring's weight development.
Original languageEnglish
JournalObesity Facts
Volume12
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)575-585
Number of pages11
ISSN1662-4025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.10.2019

Research areas and keywords

  • Adult
  • Birth Weight/physiology
  • Blood Glucose/metabolism
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight/physiology
  • Child Development/physiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood/chemistry
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leptin/blood
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Mothers
  • Obesity/metabolism
  • Pregnancy/blood
  • Reference Standards
  • Research Design/standards
  • Weight Gain/physiology

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