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Plasma leptin levels of large for gestational age and small for gestational age infants
1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Infant leptin levels correlate with birth weight and adipose tissue. Plasma leptin concentrations change with feeding status, indicating its role in infant nutritional status.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Leptin, a hormone from adipose tissue, regulates body weight.
- Understanding leptin's role in infants is crucial for assessing nutritional status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma leptin levels and infant birth weight.
- To determine if plasma leptin levels change with feeding in infants.
Main Methods:
- Plasma leptin levels were measured in infants categorized as large, small, or appropriate for gestational age.
- Radioimmunoassay was used to determine leptin concentrations from blood samples collected before and after breastfeeding.
Main Results:
- Leptin levels were higher in large for gestational age infants and lower in small for gestational age infants compared to appropriate for gestational age infants.
- Positive correlations were observed between plasma leptin levels and infant birth weight and body mass index.
- Plasma leptin concentrations decreased during fasting and increased after feeding (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Plasma leptin levels correlate with adipose tissue mass in infants.
- Leptin levels are indicative of an infant's nutritional status and are influenced by feeding patterns.
Abstract:
The hormone leptin produced in the adipose tissue is involved in the regulation of body weight. This study investigates whether plasma leptin levels are related to an infant's birthweight, and whether the levels change with feeding. We measured plasma leptin levels from infants who were large for gestational age (n = 21), small for gestational age (n = 21), and appropriate for gestational age (n = 20). Two blood samples were collected before and after breastfeeding from each infant and plasma leptin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Leptin concentration was found to be increased in large for gestational age infants and to be decreased in small for gestational age infants compared with the level in appropriate for gestational age infants. There was a positive correlation between plasma leptin levels and both the infants' birthweights and the body mass indexes. Plasma leptin concentrations were found to be decreased during fasting and to be increased after feeding (p < 0.01). It is concluded that the plasma leptin levels correlate with the size of adipose tissue mass and are related to the nutritional status.
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