Mid-Gestational Serum Leptin Concentration In Obese And Non-Obese Ghanaian Mothers And Its Relationship With Gestational Outcome

Background: Leptin is produced abundantly in adipose tissue and in human placental trophoblast so serum leptin concentration in BMI matched pregnant women is higher than non-pregnant women. The aim of the study was to compare serum leptin concentration of obese and non-obese pregnant Ghanaian women and to match it with pregnancy outcome.Method: This was a nested case control study, for which 80 antenatal women grouped into obese (cases) and nonobese (control) based on their booking body mass index (non-obese≤29.9kg/m20.05) and these had no correlation with maternal BMI or with baby’s Apgar scores. Our study subsequently, found no correlation between maternal mid-gestational leptin concentration and gestational age at delivery, as well as with birth weight of neonates.Conclusion: Mid-gestational leptin concentration did not correlate with BMI in pregnant Ghanaian women and our study failed to find correlation between midgestational leptin concentration and gestational age at delivery.