Abstract: Objective To explore the correlation between serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) level with glucose and lipid metabolism and body weight of the newborn in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods Forty pregnant women with GDM were collected as GDM group, and 40 normal pregnant women were collected as normal glucose tolerance (NGT) control group. Fasting blood glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (Fins), fasting blood lipid and serum RBP4 levels before the delivery were detected, and HOMA-IR was calculated. And the birth weight (BW) of newborns and the cord serum RBP4 levels were determined. Results The maternal and cord serum RBP4, FPG, TG, HOMA-IR, and BW of newborns in GDM group were significantly higher than those in NGT group (P < 0. 05). There were no significantly differences in the levels of Fins and TC between the two groups (P > 0. 05). The correlation analysis showed that the serum RBP4 level in pregnant women was positively correlated with TG (r=0. 489, P < 0. 01); the maternal and cord serum levels of RBP4 were positively correlated with BW of newborns (r=0. 488, P < 0. 01; r=0. 327, P < 0. 05, respectively). Conclusion RBP4 is involved in glucose and lipid metabolism regulation and fetal growth, it maybe one factor contributing to GDM.