# The Link Between Newborn SNP Polymorphism rs266729, Adiponectin, and Newborn Macrosomia in a Cohort of Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Case–Control Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This study explores the link between a genetic variant in newborns, adiponectin levels, and macrosomia in babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes.

## Contribution

The study investigates the role of the ADIPOQ rs266729 polymorphism in macrosomia among GDM mothers, finding no genetic link but identifying maternal glucose and cord adiponectin as predictors.

## Key findings

- No association was found between the ADIPOQ rs266729 polymorphism and macrosomia in GDM mothers.
- Maternal fasting glucose levels at 24–28 weeks were strongly predictive of macrosomia.
- Cord blood adiponectin levels were significantly lower in GDM mothers compared to controls.

## Abstract

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is linked to higher newborn weight and an increased risk of macrosomia. The newborn single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the ADIPOQ gene rs266729 is linked to a higher birth weight of the offspring of healthy pregnant women. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between newborn ADIPOQ rs266729 polymorphism, cord blood adiponectin, maternal glycemic and lipid metabolism, and maternal adiponectin levels at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation (WG) and at birth and its impact on newborn weight in a cohort of GDM mothers. Materials and methods: This study involved 71 women diagnosed with GDM and 142 control pregnant women. The ADIPOQ (rs266729) gene polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan real-time PCR analysis. Maternal and cord blood adiponectin levels were measured using human total adiponectin ELISA kits. We performed a Pearson correlation analysis to identify significant correlations between maternal metabolic parameters and adiponectin levels at 24–28 WG and birth and the weight of newborns. A logistic regression analysis was also conducted to identify potential macrosomia predictors. Results: We found no significant differences in the distribution of the allele (C, G) (p = 0.82) and genotype (CC, CG, GG) (p = 0.46) of APIPOQ rs266729 among normoponderal and macrosomic newborns from the GDM mothers group. Maternal fasting glucose at 24–28 WG was higher in the GDM mothers who gave birth to macrosomic newborns (106 ± 17 vs. 93 ± 10 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). Adiponectin levels in the cord blood of newborns from mothers with GDM were lower than those in newborns from control mothers (p < 0.0001). In correlation analysis, we identified a weak positive correlation between the newborn weight of GDM mothers and cord blood adiponectin (r = 0.262), maternal fasting glucose level at 24–28 WG (r = 0.288), and maternal adiponectin level at birth (0.334). Multivariate logistic regression, after adjusting for confounders, revealed that maternal fasting glucose levels at 24–28 WG had an OR of 11.59, and cord blood adiponectin levels had an OR of 30.31 for macrosomia. Conclusions: The preliminary findings of our pilot study suggest that in the gestational diabetes mellitus group, the ADIPOQ rs266729 polymorphism in newborns is not associated with a higher birth weight, maternal fasting glucose levels between 24 and 28 WG were a predictor for macrosomia, and cord blood adiponectin levels were lower than those from control mothers. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm our findings.