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The Journal "Obstetrics and Gynecology"Journal HistoryAims and ScopePolicies on Conflict of Interest, Human and Animal Rights, and Informed ConsentEditorial ProcessData sharing statementAdvertising PolicyThe Process for Handling Cases Requiring Corrections, Retractions, and Editorial Expressions of ConcernEditorial BoardEditorial CounsilInformation for ProfessionalsNewsContacts
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Obstetrics and Gynegology2026№4

Energy metabolism factors in umbilical cord blood in fetal growth restriction

DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.365

Kan N.E., Tyutyunnik V.L., Soldatova E.E., Ryzhova K.O., Gaidarova A.R., Krasnyi A.M.

Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Centre of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia

Objective: To investigate the concentrations of energy metabolism factors in umbilical cord blood plasma in fetal growth restriction (FGR).
Materials and methods: A case-control study was conducted involving 118 patients. The study group comprised 60 pregnant women with a postnatally confirmed diagnosis of FGR, while the comparison group comprised 58 women with physiologically uncomplicated pregnancies without FGR. The concentrations of energy metabolism factors (C-peptide, ghrelin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, glucagon-like peptide-1, glucagon, insulin, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, resistin, and visfatin) in umbilical cord blood plasma were determined using multiplex analysis with a 10-plex Bio-Plex Pro Human Diabetes Panel assay system.
Results: Statistically significant differences were identified in the concentrations of ghrelin, leptin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (p<0.001) in umbilical cord blood plasma. In the FGR group, ghrelin (221.89 [160.08; 281.71] ng/mL) and PAI-1 (2150.48 [1604.57; 2859.83] ng/mL) concentrations were significantly elevated, whereas leptin concentrations were reduced (213.58 [101.57; 1027.24] ng/mL). Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was established between low anthropometric indices of the neonate and leptin concentrations (rs=0.34, p=0.04 and 0.46, p<0.01), and a negative correlation with ghrelin concentrations
(rs=-0.51, p=0.003 and -0.52, p<0.01) in patients with FGR.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that energy metabolism factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of FGR and warrant further investigation. FGR is characterized by reduced leptin and elevated ghrelin concentrations, reflecting the involvement of the growth hormone–insulin-like growth factor-1 axis in the pathogenesis of this obstetric complication. Dysregulation of these hormones and adipokines in neonates may be a risk factor for the development of metabolic disorders in adulthood.

Authors' contributions: Kan N.E., Tyutyunnik V.L., Soldatova E.E., Ryzhova K.O., Gaidarova A.R., Krasnyi A.M. – conception and design of the study, data collection, literature review, processing and analysis of relevant material, drafting of the manuscript, editing of the manuscript.
Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: There was no funding for this study.
Ethical Approval: The study was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the V.I. Kulakov NMRC for OG&P, Ministry of Health of Russia.
Use of generative artificial intelligence: none.
Patient Consent for Publication: All patients provided informed consent for the publication of their data.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
For citation: Kan N.E., Tyutyunnik V.L., Soldatova E.E., Ryzhova K.O., Gaidarova A.R., Krasnyi A.M. 
Energy metabolism factors in umbilical cord blood in fetal growth restriction.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (4): 77-86 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.365

Keywords

fetal growth restriction
umbilical cord blood
ghrelin
leptin
plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
fetal programming
Full text (in Russian)

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Received 09.12.2025

Accepted 09.04.2026

About the Authors

Natalia E. Kan, Professor, Dr. Med. Sci., Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Deputy Director General for Research – Director of the Institute of Obstetrics, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow,
Ac. Oparina str., 4, kan-med@mail.ru, Researcher ID: B-2370-2015, SPIN: 5378-8437, Authors ID: 624900, Scopus Author ID: 57008835600,
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5087-5946
Victor L. Tyutyunnik, Professor, Dr. Med. Sci., Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Leading Researcher at the Center of Scientific and Clinical Researches, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4, tioutiounnik@mail.ru, Researcher ID: B-2364-2015, SPIN: 1963-1359, Authors ID: 213217, Scopus Author ID: 56190621500, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5830-5099
Ekaterina E. Soldatova, PhD, Researcher at the Institute of Obstetrics, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4, +7(906)110-51-13, katerina.soldatova95@bk.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6463-3403
Kristina O. Ryzhova, PhD student, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4, cr.yanina@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8318-435X
Asiyat R. Gaidarova, PhD, Obstetrician-gynecologist, Researcher at the 1st Obstetric Physiological Department of the Institute of Obstetrics, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4, 95asiya95@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1415-3318
Aleksey M. Krasnyi, PhD, Head of the Cytology Laboratory, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology,
Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparina str., 4, alexred@list.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7883-2702
Corresponding author: Ekaterina E. Soldatova, katerina.soldatova95@bk.ru

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