Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between leptin, insulin and adiponectin levels and anthropometric measurements of term newborns of adolescent and adult mothers.
Study design: Umbilical cord plasma samples were obtained from 80 healthy term neonates (40 from teenagers and 40 from adult mothers) and adiponectin, insulin and leptin concentrations were measured.
Results: Cord plasma adiponectin levels were higher in the boys from adult mothers than in the boys of the adolescent (p < 0.05), while plasma leptin levels in the boys of the adults were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those of girls from both groups. Univariate correlation analysis showed that leptin umbilical cord plasma levels were positively associated with birth weight in neonates from adolescents and adults. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that leptin levels showed significant positive predictor for birth weight specifically in the adult mother.
Conclusion: Gestational age, but not adipokines, showed to be a significant positive predictor factor of birth weight in adolescent pregnancy.