Body Fat at Birth and Cord Blood Levels of Insulin, Adiponectin, Leptin, and Insulin-like Growth Factor-I in Small-for-gestational-age Infants

Background: Low birthweight has been associated with an increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes in adulthood. The aim of this study was to evaluate IGF-I, adiponectin, insulin levels, and body fat in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants at birth.

Methods: We performed a transverse comparative study in SGA and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants. The study was conducted at the Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Leon, Mexico. Weight, length, and percent of body fat were evaluated during the first 48 h of birth. Glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and IGF-I levels in cord blood were measured.

Results: We studied 100 infants (50 SGA and 50 AGA). A history of diabetes in a second-degree relative was higher in SGA infants than in AGA infants (48.0 vs. 30.0%, respectively; p = 0.03). Glucose, adiponectin, insulin and IGF-I levels were similar between the groups. Leptin levels and percentage of body fat were lower in SGA than AGA (15.3 vs. 23.4 ng/mL; p = 0.003, 11.1 vs. 12.7%; p <0.001, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that length, percentage of body fat, and leptin levels were positively associated with birthweight. However, leptin levels were not independent of percentage of body fat.

Conclusions: Low body fat and leptin levels, but no evidence of increased metabolic risk at birth, were found in SGA infants.