The Role of Orexin A During Pregnancy and Lactation and Sudden Infant Death (SIDS): A Systematic Review

Adipose tissue plays a role in releasing hormones including orexin, that regulates energy metabolism, nutrition, body weight, control system, autonomic, sleep, insulin sensitivity, breathing, drug addiction ,and reproductive axis. The pregnancy is associated with a series of metabolic changes that provide energy and nutrients for mother and fetus. Orexin increases insulin sensitivity and reduces diabetes and metabolism and increases energy expenditure and development of the fetus and newborn. This review aimed to summarize the studies related to orexin A ,normal and complicated pregnancy, lactation ,and sudden infant death (SID).
In this study, 320 articles were found through electronic search in Pubmed, Google, Google Scholar, Yahoo, Iran Medex, Science Direct, and SID databases during 1998 to 2016 and 13 articles were finally examined.
The results showed that orexin A in the placenta plays an important role in the regulation of energy metabolism during pregnancy and AF volume and its reduction probably causes idiopathic polyhydramnius and increases the risk of gestational diabetes resolutions. And its reduction after delivery increases prolactin and lactation. Orexin A reduction in brain stem is associated with sleep disorders that causes sudden infant death to occur.
The study showed that, orexin plays a role in improving insulin resistance and sets the sleep cycle, fetal and infant growth , uncomplicated pregnancy ,and lactation.