Exploring the Role of Umbilical Cord Blood Leptin and Visfatin in Fetal Growth: Associations with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
- 2Genesis Athens-Thrace Medically Assisted Reproduction Unit, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
- 3Endometriosis Center, University Hospitals of Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Trust Headquarters, Bristol BS1 3NU, UK
Abstract
Leptin and visfatin are adipokines involved in metabolic regulation and fetal development, but their associations with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and neonatal growth remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the relationships between umbilical cord blood leptin and visfatin concentrations, maternal GDM status, and neonatal anthropometric characteristics. Umbilical cord blood samples from 88 neonates were analyzed for leptin and visfatin concentrations using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics v.32. Cord blood leptin concentration was significantly higher in neonates born to mothers with GDM than in those born to mothers without GDM (median [IQR]: 2.22 [1.09] vs. 1.50 [0.77] ng/mL; p = 0.002). Visfatin concentration was positively correlated with birth weight (r = 0.359, p < 0.01) and head circumference (r = 0.233, p = 0.029), and differed significantly across neonatal weight categories (p < 0.001). Post hoc analysis showed significant differences in visfatin concentrations between AGA and LGA neonates (adjusted p < 0.001) and between SGA and LGA neonates (adjusted p = 0.008). In multivariable regression analysis, the models explained 9.3% and 20.5% of the variability in leptin and visfatin concentrations, respectively. Umbilical cord blood leptin and visfatin concentrations were differentially associated with maternal metabolic status and neonatal growth characteristics. GDM status was independently associated with cord blood leptin concentration, whereas neonatal weight category was independently associated with visfatin concentration. These findings suggest that cord blood adipokine concentrations may reflect aspects of the intrauterine metabolic environment and fetal growth; however, their clinical significance and potential predictive value require confirmation in larger longitudinal studies.
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BibTeX
@article{styliou2026exploring,
title = {{Exploring the Role of Umbilical Cord Blood Leptin and Visfatin in Fetal Growth: Associations with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements}},
author = {Maria Styliou and Angeliki Tiptiri-Kourpeti and Panagiotis Konstantaras and Panagiotis Tsikouras and Theopi Nalbanti and Nektaria Kritsotaki and Aggeliki Gerente and Konstantinos Nikolettos and Nikolaos Nikolettos},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27198843},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/19/8843},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploring the Role of Umbilical Cord Blood Leptin and Visfatin in Fetal Growth: Associations with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements
AU - Maria Styliou
AU - Angeliki Tiptiri-Kourpeti
AU - Panagiotis Konstantaras
AU - Panagiotis Tsikouras
AU - Theopi Nalbanti
AU - Nektaria Kritsotaki
AU - Aggeliki Gerente
AU - Konstantinos Nikolettos
AU - Nikolaos Nikolettos
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/03
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27198843
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/19/8843
AB - Leptin and visfatin are adipokines involved in metabolic regulation and fetal development, but their associations with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and neonatal growth remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the relationships between umbilical cord blood leptin and visfatin concentrations, maternal GDM status, and neonatal anthropometric characteristics. Umbilical cord blood samples from 88 neonates were analyzed for leptin and visfatin concentrations using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics v.32. Cord blood leptin concentration was significantly higher in neonates born to mothers with GDM than in those born to mothers without GDM (median [IQR]: 2.22 [1.09] vs. 1.50 [0.77] ng/mL; p = 0.002). Visfatin concentration was positively correlated with birth weight (r = 0.359, p < 0.01) and head circumference (r = 0.233, p = 0.029), and differed significantly across neonatal weight categories (p < 0.001). Post hoc analysis showed significant differences in visfatin concentrations between AGA and LGA neonates (adjusted p < 0.001) and between SGA and LGA neonates (adjusted p = 0.008). In multivariable regression analysis, the models explained 9.3% and 20.5% of the variability in leptin and visfatin concentrations, respectively. Umbilical cord blood leptin and visfatin concentrations were differentially associated with maternal metabolic status and neonatal growth characteristics. GDM status was independently associated with cord blood leptin concentration, whereas neonatal weight category was independently associated with visfatin concentration. These findings suggest that cord blood adipokine concentrations may reflect aspects of the intrauterine metabolic environment and fetal growth; however, their clinical significance and potential predictive value require confirmation in larger longitudinal studies.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -