Effects of Maternal and Fetal Leptin on Fetal Growth

Objective: To determine the relationships between maternal and fetal cord serum leptin levels, maternal and fetal anthropometric measurements and placental weight. Design: Prospective clinical research Setting: Adnan Menderes University Hospital, Aydin, Turkey Patients: Thirty-three, healhty, first trimester pregnant women without any obstetric high risk. Interventions: Maternal anthropometric measurements and venous blood samples were collected at the first trimester and at term. Fetal anthropometrics and placental weight were recorded. Main outcome measurements: Leptin, body weight, body mass index (BMI), ponderal index (PI) and fetal sex. Results: Serum leptin levels at term were increased when compared with those at the first trimester. The more BMI at the first trimester, the less total weight gain during gestation. Maternal weight at the first trimester was positively correlated with placental weight only, whereas maternal weight at term was positively correlated with both fetal and placental weight. The higher maternal BMI at term and the higher placental weight. Fetal weight, fetal BMI and PI were significantly and positively correlated with fetal cord leptin and placental weight. The same kind of correlation existed with the placental weight and cord leptin level. Fetal cord leptin and fetal sex was not correlated. Conclusions: One of the determinants of fetal and placental weight is the maternal weight at term, rather than the total weight gain during the pregnancy. Relatively thin women at the beginning of pregnancy gain more weight than the subjects that are relatively obese at the beginning of pregnancy. So maternal weight at term comes into a balance. Consequently, it seems that an optimal birth weight is achieved. Maternal leptin levels at the first trimester could not predict fetal growth. Fetal cord leptin is effective more than maternal leptin on fetal growth.