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Exploring the Role of Umbilical Cord Blood Leptin and Visfatin in Fetal Growth: Associations with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements

Year: 2026

Type: article

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.

Source: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/ijms27198843