This study aimed to identify possible associations between anthropometric characteristics and insulin markers of mothers and 1) their neonate`s birth weight, and 2) those markers of neonates. A prospective observational cohort of 100 healthy mothers who came to a hospital in Tehran in 2014 from pregnancy to delivery as well as their term neonates comprised the study population. Only newborns with weight within normal range were included. Anthropometric indices and serum glucose and insulin levels were measured in both mothers and neonates. Correlations between maternal body and serum indices and neonate`s serum indices and birth weight were assessed. Maternal weight before pregnancy (r= 0.3, p=0.001), at time of delivery (r= 0.3, p=0.001), and maternal body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy (r= 0.2, p=0.04) positively associated with neonate`s birth weight. For the neonates with normal birth weight, there was no correlation between maternal serum glucose and insulin levels and neonate`s serum glucose and insulin levels or birth weight. Neonate`s serum glucose correlated positively with insulin levels (r= 0.3, p=0.006) and HOMA-IR (r= 0.6, p < 0.0001); and negatively with HOMA-S (r= -0.6, p < 0.0001) and QUICKI (r= -0.5, p < 0.0001). Neonate`s insulin correlated positively with HOMA-IR (r= 0.9, p < 0.0001), and negatively with HOMA-S (r= -0.9, p < 0.0001), QUICKI (r= -0.9, p < 0.0001), gestational age (r= -0.2, p=0.03) and with glucose-insulin (GI) ratio (r= -0.9, p < 0.0001). Neonate`s GI ratio correlated positively with gestational age (r= 0.2, p=0.01). Maternal serum glucose and insulin showed positive correlation (r= 0.4, p < 0.0001). The lowest maternal insulin quartile had dominantly male and the highest quartile had dominantly female neonates (p=0.006). In conclusion, maternal anthropometric measures correlate with neonates` birth weight. Advancing health promotion to normalize these maternal parameters may reduce the incidence of abnormal birth weights among newborns.

Keywords: birth weight, homeostatic model assessment, insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity, maternal anthropometric characteristics