Influence of mass and distribution of adipose tissue on the content of leptin in pregnant women at different periods gestations

BACKGROUND: Currently, obesity is one of the most global problem in the world. Redundant accumulation of adipose tissue accompanied by metabolic disorders including high secretion of leptin may lead to an increased risk of gestational complications. AIMS: To assess the level of leptin in pregnant women’s blood serum depending on their body weight and the character of content of adipose tissue in different terms of gestation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 211 women with single pregnancies, which came in natural cycles and finished with urgent parturitions. All of them got anthropometric study, assessment of adipose tissue’s weight by bioimpedanceometry, character of fat deposition by ultrasound investigation of adipose tissue, determination of the level of whey leptin at 10–14, 24–28, 36–38 weeks of pregnancy. RESULTS: Established, that the level of leptin increases in proportion to pregestational body mass index from the first trimester. Women with excess body mass and with obesity had higher concentrations of leptin all over gestation, than women with normal body mass (р<0.001). The higher term of pregnancy was, the higher the level of whey leptin was in all groups, independently of character of fat deposition. In the end of third trimester, women with normal body mass had the largest value of absolute and relative increase of body mass and fatty mass, what accompanied by enlargement of the concentration of leptin more than in 3 times for the pregestational level. CONCLUSIONS: In this way, high content of leptin in pregnant women’s (with excess body mass and obesity) blood serum in the first trimester is explained by redundant accumulation of the adipose tissue. The largest value of gestational increase of body mass and fat mass in group where women had normal initial weight is accompanied by the great increase of the level of leptin on the body weight unit and fat mass. These data indicate, that control and limitation of excessive weight gain while pregnancy can be a measure of prevention of the redundant leptin’s secretion and different gestational complications related with it.