Related Experiment Videos
Leptin levels in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
Aysun Bideci1, Peyami Cinaz, Fatih Süheyl Ezgü
1Department of Pediatrics, Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) have significantly higher leptin levels compared to healthy children. The duration of diabetes and insulin therapy correlates with these elevated leptin levels in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pediatric Metabolism
- Diabetes Research
Background:
- Leptin, a hormone from adipose tissue, regulates energy balance and neuroendocrine functions.
- Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) significantly impacts body metabolism.
- Understanding leptin's role in pediatric IDDM is crucial for metabolic health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine leptin levels in children with IDDM.
- To investigate correlations between leptin and disease duration, insulin dosage, HbA1c, BMI, lipids, and IGF-1.
- To compare leptin levels in pediatric IDDM patients with healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay was used to measure fasting plasma leptin levels.
- Study included 16 children with IDDM and 12 healthy controls.
- Data analyzed for correlations between leptin and clinical parameters.
Main Results:
- Mean plasma leptin levels were significantly higher in the IDDM group (19.1 ng/ml) versus controls (6.1 ng/ml).
- A weak positive correlation was found between leptin and Body Mass Index (BMI) in IDDM patients.
- A significant positive correlation was observed between leptin levels and the duration of IDDM (r=0.49).
Conclusions:
- Leptin levels are significantly elevated in children with IDDM compared to healthy peers.
- The duration of the disease and insulin therapy appears to influence these elevated leptin levels.
- Further research is needed to understand the implications of altered leptin in pediatric diabetes.
Abstract:
Leptin, a product of the ob gene, is a polypeptide hormone produced in adipose tissue that informs the brain about the amount of energy storage of body fat. It has very important effects on neuroendocrine functions and energy expenditure. The aim of our study was to determine leptin levels of children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), which is known to affect body metabolism, and to investigate the relationship between duration of the disease, insulin dosage, HbA1c levels, body mass index (BMI), serum lipids and IGF-1 levels. Sixteen patients with IDDM (chronological age 13.8 +/- 2.6 years) whose HbAlc levels were 10.2 +/- 1.9 %, BMI 21.2. +/- 2.7 kg/m2, insulin dosage 0.9 +/- 0.4 U/kg/day and duration of the disease 6.7 +/- 2.6 years, and 12 healthy controls (13.4 +/- 2.6 years) were included in the study. Fasting plasma leptin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay method. The mean plasma leptin levels of the patient and the control groups were 19.1 +/- 7.6 ng/ml and 6.1 +/- 2.9 ng/ml, respectively, and significant difference was found between the two groups (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between leptin values and IGF-1, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride levels, atherogenic index, insulin dosage or HbA1c levels in the patient group. A weak statistical correlation was determined between BMI and leptin levels in the IDDM group (r = 0.28, p < 0.05). A positive correlation was also found between leptin levels and the duration of the disease (r = 49, p < 0.05). As a result, it seems that leptin levels of children with IDDM differed from the levels of the control group significantly, and that the duration of insulin therapy was responsible for this difference.