The Relationship Between Fetal Nutritional Status and HPA Axis in Neonates

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible relationship between fetal nutritional status and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis in neonates. Methods: The prospective observational study was conducted on singleton term appropriate for gestational age and small for gestational age infants during a 1-year period. All of the neonates' cord-blood cortisol and adrenocroticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were measured, and those identified as suffering from fetal malnutrition (FM) were placed into the study group, while the cord-blood cortisol and ACTH levels of well-nourished term newborns comprised the control group. Results: A total of 588 term newborns were included in the study. The body weight, height and head circumference values of the study group were found to be lower in the study group compared to the control group (p=0.001). The cortisol levels were found to be increased by 22.6% in the study group and by 13.9% in the control group. No difference was found between the cord blood cortisol levels. No difference was observed between the study group and control group in terms of the cord blood ACTH levels. Conclusion: The study results were not found association between the cord blood cortisol and/or ACTH values and FM. Cord blood cortisol and ACTH values do not seem to be appropriate laboratory tests in terms of supporting the diagnosis in neonates with FM.