Cord serum leptin in infants born to diabetic mothers

Abstract

In genetically diabetes-prone populations, maternal diabetes during pregnancy increases the risk of their children developing diabetes and obesity (the vicious cycle of type 2 diabetes). Fetal hyperinsulinemia at birth acts as a marker of this risk. The objective of this study is to find out whether cord blood leptin concentrations are increased in offspring of mothers with type 2 and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to evaluate gender differences if any, in their levels.Cord Serum Leptin measured by ELISA: 1. Cord Blood from 40 babies (20M, 20F) born to GDM Mothers. 2: Cord Blood from 20 babies (9M, 11F) born to Type 2 DM Mothers. 3. Cord Blood from 30 babies (15M, 15F) born to Non Diabetic Mothers. Babies born to mothers with both type 2 diabetes and GDM had higher birth weight. They also had higher Leptin concentrations [ng/ml] compared to Controls; Leptin concentrations in Type 2 Diabetes -Mean [42.32+24.09], in GDM – Mean [40.31+22.71] & in Control subjects – Mean [23.87+15.48]. Birth weight of the female babies were also higher than that of male babies.Leptin concentrations were not significantly higher in the female babies in comparison to the male babies.High cord leptin, birth weight and ponderal index (kilograms per cm), in babies born to Type 2 diabetes and GDM mothers.