Cord blood adiponectin and leptin concentrations in monochorionic twins with selective intrauterine growth restriction and their associations with childhood growth trajectories.

Background: Being born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was associated with subsequent health issues later in life. However, the underlying role of adipokines in IUGR is unknown.

Objectives: To measure the adiponectin and leptin concentrations in the cord blood of monochorionic (MC) twins with selective IUGR (sIUGR) and evaluate their associations with childhood growth trajectories.

Methods: Cord blood samples were collected from 22 pairs of MC twins with sIUGR and 20 pairs of normal MC twins. Adiponectin and leptin concentrations in cord blood were determined by ELISA. Data regarding perinatal outcomes and infantile growth trajectories from birth to 24 months were obtained.

Results: Only cord blood adiponectin concentrations were associated with IUGR (β -1.51, 95% CI -2.45, -0.57, p = 0.002), and cord blood leptin concentrations were significantly lower in sIUGR twins compared to normal twins (2.8 ± 1.6 vs. 6.4 ± 3.0, p < 0.001). Adiponectin concentrations were negatively associated with height increments from birth to 6 months (β -0.28, 95% CI -0.51, -0.06, p = 0.015). Leptin concentrations were negatively associated with weight at 6 and 24 months (β -0.12 95% CI -0.22, -0.02, p = 0.002; β -0.18 95% CI -0.33, -0.03, p = 0.019) and weight and height increments from birth to 6 months (β -0.17 95% CI -0.29, -0.06, p = 0.020; β -0.40 95% CI -0.81, -0.01, p = 0.037).

Conclusion: Cord blood adiponectin concentrations were negatively associated with IUGR but did not predict childhood growth. Cord blood leptin concentrations were inversely associated with weight and height increments in the first 6 months.