Relation of cord serum levels of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factors, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, leptin, and interleukin-6 with birth weight, birth length, and head circumference in term and preterm neonates

Nutrition. 2002 Jul-Aug;18(7-8):604-8. doi: 10.1016/s0899-9007(01)00811-5.

Abstract

Objectives: Fetal growth process is governed by multiple factors. We investigated the relation of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs), leptin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) with intrauterine growth in preterm and term neonates.

Methods: Thirty-eight preterm and 43 term neonates were recruited. Anthropometric measures were recorded and umbilical cord blood samples were collected at birth.

Results: Birth weight (BW), birth length (BL), ponderal index, head circumference (HC), and cord serum levels of albumin, prealbumin, retinol-binding protein (RBP), total and free IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3, acid-labile subunit (ALS), and leptin were significantly lower, whereas levels of IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IL-6 were significantly higher in preterm than in term neonates (P < 0.05). Total and free IGF-I, ALS, and leptin had significantly positive correlations, whereas IGFBP-2 had a significantly negative correlation, with BW and BL in preterm plus term neonates. Forward stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed that gestational age (GA), IGFBP-2, leptin, and free IGF-I are significant predictors of BW; GA, IGFBP-2, ALS, transferrin, and leptin are significant predictors of BL; and GA and free IGF-I are significant predictors of HC in preterm and term neonates.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2, ALS, and leptin play important roles in intrauterine growth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthropometry*
  • Birth Weight
  • Body Height
  • Carrier Proteins / blood
  • Cephalometry
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood / chemistry
  • Gestational Age
  • Glycoproteins / blood
  • Human Growth Hormone / blood*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature / blood*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / blood
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / blood
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / blood
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / analysis
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / analysis
  • Interleukin-6 / blood*
  • Leptin / blood*
  • Male
  • Prealbumin / analysis
  • Regression Analysis
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • Serum Albumin / analysis
  • Somatomedins / analysis*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins
  • Interleukin-6
  • Leptin
  • Prealbumin
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins
  • Serum Albumin
  • Somatomedins
  • insulin-like growth factor binding protein, acid labile subunit
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II