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The effects of exercise on body weight and circulating leptin in premature infants
Alon Eliakim1, Tzipora Dolfin, Eli Weiss
1Department of Pediatrics, Meir General Hospital, Kfar-Saba, The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Insights
Daily movements significantly improved weight gain and increased leptin levels in premature infants. This suggests that movement may promote adipose tissue development in very-low-birth-weight infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric physiology
Background:
- Premature infants, particularly those with very-low-birth-weight, face challenges in growth and development.
- Leptin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are key hormones influencing infant growth and metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a daily movement intervention on weight gain, serum leptin, and IGF-I levels in premature infants.
- To explore potential mechanisms linking physical activity to growth in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 20 very-low-birth-weight premature infants.
- Infants were assigned to either a daily movement group (passive range of motion) or a control group.
- Intervention was administered 5 days per week for 4 weeks.
Main Results:
- The daily movement group exhibited significantly greater weight gain compared to the control group (784 g vs. 608 g, p < 0.02).
- Leptin levels were significantly higher in the movement group (0.60 ng/ml vs. 0.13 ng/ml).
- While IGF-I levels showed an increase in the movement group, this was not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- A brief daily range of motion intervention positively influenced weight gain in very-low-birth-weight premature infants.
- Increased leptin levels suggest that daily movements may promote the development of adipose tissue.
- These findings highlight the potential benefits of early physical activity interventions for premature infant growth.
Objective:
To assess the effect of daily movements on weight gain, serum leptin, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in premature infants.
Study Design:
Twenty very-low-birth-weight premature infants were matched and randomized to a daily movement (n = 10) and control groups (n = 10). Daily movement consisted of passive range of motion with gentle compression of both the upper and lower extremities 5 days per week for 4 weeks.
Results:
Daily movements led to a significant increase in weight gain (784 +/- 51 vs 608 +/- 26 g in movements and controls, respectively, p < 0.02), and to a significant increase in leptin (0.60 +/- 0.19 vs 0.13 +/- 0.06 ng/ml in movements and controls, respectively 18.8 +/- 4.1 vs 9.2 +/- 4.1 ng/ml in movements and controls, respectively); however, this increase was not statistically significant.
Conclusion:
A relatively brief range of motion daily movement intervention was associated with greater weight gain and increased leptin levels in very-low-birth-weight premature infants. This may suggest that at least part of the daily movements associated with increase in body weight resulted from an increase in adipose tissue.
