The interaction between resistin and metabolic hormones or anthropometric parameters and term newborns

We aimed by this study to detect the plasma resistin concentration at birth, its relationship with leptin and insulin levels and to determine if there is association between resistin level and anthropometric indexes in newborn infants. Blood samples were obtained from preterm and term newborns within the first 2hr of life for hormonal assay before milk feeding or energy intake. Plasma resistin was significantly higher in term than in preterm infants and was also significantly correlated with serum leptin. Both hormones were significantly associated with gestational age and anthropometric indexes. Significantly higher plasma resistin levels were found in infants who were born vaginally when compared to those who were born via cesarean section. We conclude that there is association among resistin leptin and anthropometric indexes suggesting that both hormones might be gestation related. Infants who were born vaginally had significantly higher plasma resistin levels suggesting that this hormone might also be associated with stress induced by the birth process. A high circulating resistin level at term gestation could be advantageous to the infant by promoting hepatic glucose production and preventing hypoglycemia after birh.