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Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
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Poster Session 2

Category: Ultrasound/Imaging

Poster Session 2

(538) Association of maternal and cord plasma leptin levels with fetal adiposity across gestation

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM  

    Submitting Author and Presenting Author(s)

  • Junko Tamai, MD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    • Coauthor(s)

  • Satoru Ikenoue, MD, PhD (he/him/his)

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • Keisuke Akita, MD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • KS

    Koki Shigematsu, MD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • NI

    Naotsugu Ishikawa, MD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • YO

    Yasuhiko Ogata, MD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • YA

    Yushi Abe, MD, PhD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • YF

    Yuka Fukuma, MD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • Yuya Tanaka, MD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • TO

    Toshimitsu Otani, MD, PhD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • MF

    Marie Fukutake, MD, PhD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • YK

    Yoshifumi Kasuga, MD, PhD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  • MT

    Mamoru Tanaka, MD, PhD

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine
    Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Objective:
Fetal fat deposition during gestation has been associated with infant adiposity, which subsequently leads to childhood obesity and metabolic disorders. Maternal and cord leptin (one of the adipokines that influence lipid metabolism) are known to affect birth weight and infant adiposity. However, the association between leptin and fat deposition in the fetal period remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of maternal and cord plasma leptin with fetal adiposity across gestation.

Study Design:
A prospective study was conducted with 113 singleton pregnancies. Maternal blood sample was obtained at 10, 24 and 36 weeks, and cord blood sample was obtained at delivery. Plasma leptin level was log transformed to be normally distributed. Fetal ultrasonography was performed at 24, 30 and 36 weeks. Estimated fetal adiposity (EFA) was calculated as the average of standardized z scores of arm percentage fat area, thigh percentage fat area and anterior abdominal wall thickness. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the association between maternal or cord plasma leptin levels and EFA at 24, 30 and 36 weeks, adjusting for confounding factors including maternal age, parity, pre-gravid BMI, gestational weight gain, and infant sex.

Results:
Maternal plasma leptin at 10, 24, 36 weeks and cord plasma leptin were 18.3 ± 11.5 (median ± IQR), 19.5 ± 13.5, 21.4 ± 17.7, and 7.9 ± 6.9 ng/ml, respectively. Maternal leptin at 10 weeks was not associated with EFA across gestation. Maternal leptin at 24 and 36 weeks and cord leptin were not associated with EFA at 24 weeks and 30 weeks, but significantly correlated with EFA at 36 weeks. Even after controlling for the confounding factors, maternal leptin at 24 weeks (β = 0.474, p < 0.001), at 36 weeks (β = 0.456, p < 0.001) and cord leptin (β = 0.408, p < 0.001) significantly correlated with EFA at 36 weeks.

Conclusion:
Maternal plasma leptin at 24 and 36 weeks and cord leptin significantly correlated with EFA at 36 weeks. Maternal leptin levels after 24 weeks could be a marker for identifying increased fetal adiposity in late gestation.