Jao J, Balmert LC, Sun S, et al. - The results of this study demonstrate that higher cord insulin and C-peptide in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) vs. HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) newborns, as well as differences in cord metabolites, metabolic-related cytokines, and eicosanoids, may reflect a propensity for fuel storage and an inflammatory milieu suggestive of fetal metabolic changes correlated with in utero HIV/ART exposure.

• Researchers enrolled a total of 118 infants, 56 were HEU, ART exposed.

• It has been reported that mean cord insulin (β = 0.295, p = 0.03) and C-peptide (β = 0.522, p < 0.01) were significantly higher in HEU vs. HUU newborns in adjusted analyses.

• Furthermore, HEU neonates showed primarily positive relationships between complex lipids and C-peptides, indicative of fuel storage, and augmented relationships between cord eicosanoids and cytokines.

• It was shown that HUU neonates indicated negative relationships with lipids and C-peptide indicative of elevated fuel utilization.