ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone with profound insulin sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherogenic effects. Apart from its obvious potential as a mediator of adult metabolic syndrome, in pregnancy, adiponectin could have a significant role in regulating energy homeostasis. However, correlations between umbilical cord and maternal serum adiponectin levels and neonatal birthweights are far from understood. The purpose of the present study was to clarify correlations between umbilical cord and maternal serum adiponectin levels and neonatal birthweights. METHODS: The study included 30 healthy mothers who had given birth to healthy neonates. Adiponectin levels in maternal serum and umbilical cord serum were determined by ELISA and analysed. RESULTS: The ranges of adiponectin levels for umbilical cord and maternal serum were 7.12-24.93 microgram/mL and 1.76-8.20 microgram/mL, respectively. Umbilical cord adiponectin levels (14.82+/-3.66 microgram/mL) were significantly higher than maternal serum levels (4.73+/-1.87)(p<0.001). Umbilical cord adiponectin levels were correlated positively with neonatal birthweights (r=0.459, p=0.011). No significant differences in adiponectin levels were found between female and male neonates. In addition, there was no correlation between umbilical cord adiponectin levels and maternal serum adiponectin levels, maternal body mass index, umbilical leptin, or insulin levels. CONCLUSION: The levels of adiponectin were higher in umbilical cord than in maternal serum. The adiponectin levels in umbilical cord were found to correlate positively with neonatal birthweights. Therefore, adiponectin may be involved in fetal energy metabolism in pregnancy.