Normal levels of insulin, growth hormone and cortisol levels in venous cord blood of healthy full-term infants: Correlation with birthweight and placental weight

The aim of this study was to determine reference values for the venous cord blood insulin, growth hormone and cortisol levels and also find out the correlations of these three hormones with the birthweight and placental weight. Method: One hundred and eightythree healthy mothers and their full-term neonates were included in the study. The placental weights and birthweights were measured by the same digital scale. Venous cord blood insulin, growth hormone and cortisol levels of infants were analysed using enzyme-immunological, immunoluminometric and radioimmunoassay methods, respectively. Results : The mean insulin level was found 6.01±3.67 µU/ml (0.5-18), mean growth hormone level 20.07±8.38 (8.6-40) ng/ml and mean cortisol level 13.6±7.87 (2.4- 40) µg/dl. We found that the venous cord blood insulin levels were in linear correlation with both birthweight and placental weight (r=0.39, p<0.05 and r=0.35, p<0.05 respectively) but such correlation did not exist when growth hormone or cortisol was concerned. Conclusion: We consider the values we have obtained as data to be used for our own reference. Moreover, it was shown that cord blood insulin values were in linear correlation with birthweight and placental weight but such correlation did not exist for growth hormone and cortisol.