Abstract
Objective: Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic with future adverse outcomes. Early identification of high risk groups will allow the development of prevention strategies. Cord blood adipocytokines have been previously examined as biomarkers predicting future obesity. We conducted a systematic review looking at the association between cord blood leptin and adiponectin with adiposity up to 5 years of age.
Design: A literature review was performed between January 1994 and November 2018 using Medline/Pubmed and EMBASE. Studies using skinfold thickness and direct methods of assessing body composition were considered.
Results:  Data from 22 studies was retrieved. Cord blood leptin was associated with adiposity at birth (r = 0.487; 95%CI: 0.444, 0.531) and was inversely related to adiposity up to 3 years of age. The association was not sustained at 5 years. There was a weak association between adiponectin in cord blood and adiposity at birth (r = 0.201; 95% CI: 0.125, 0.277). Results revealed a positive trend between cord adiponectin and adiposity in young children, but data was limited.
Conclusions: Cord blood leptin and adiponectin are associated with adiposity at birth. Additional longitudinal studies are required to understand how early life biomarkers predict future adverse metabolic profile.

CORD BLOOD ADIPOCYTOKINES AND BODY COMPOSITION UP TO 5 YEARS OF AGE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW