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Published on: June 25, 2019
Plasma concentrations of orexins in children
Przemyslaw J Tomasik1, Mikolaj Spodaryk, Krystyna Sztefko
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University Children's Hospital, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. mitomasi@cyf-kr.edu.pl
Insights
Orexin levels in children are linked to BMI and energy needs, not sleep duration. Higher orexin A and B concentrations were observed in neonates and pubertal children, with levels inversely correlating with BMI.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neuroendocrinology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Orexins are known to regulate energy balance, feeding, and arousal in animals and adults.
- Understanding orexin roles in children is crucial for growth and metabolic health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate plasma orexin concentrations in children across different age groups.
- To investigate the relationship between orexin levels, Body Mass Index (BMI), energy demand, and sleep duration.
Main Methods:
- Plasma orexin A and B concentrations were measured using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA).
- Samples were collected from diverse pediatric groups: newborns, infants, prepubertal, pubertal, and postpubertal adolescents.
- Orexin levels were analyzed in relation to BMI, caloric intake, and sleep duration.
Main Results:
- Orexin A concentrations were higher than orexin B in all children.
- Peak orexin A and B levels were found in neonates and pubertal children.
- A negative correlation was observed between BMI and orexin concentrations, while caloric demand showed a positive correlation.
Conclusions:
- Orexins are significant in pediatric growth, potentially acting as long-term satiety factors.
- Orexin signaling may coordinate energy homeostasis with pubertal development and sexual maturation.
Background:
According to experiments done on animals and adult humans, orexins are involved in homeostasis of energy balance, feeding and arousal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasma orexins concentrations in children in relation to body mass index (BMI), energy demand and duration of sleep.
Material And Methods:
Studied children were grouped as follows: newborns (n = 7), infants (n = 15), prepubertal children (2-9 years, n = 12), pubertal children (10-15 years, n = 8) and postpubertal adolescents (16-18 years, n = 8). Plasma orexins concentrations were determined by EIA after extraction of samples on Sep-Pak columns.
Results:
The plasma concentration of orexin A was higher than the concentration of orexin B in all children studied. The concentrations of these two peptides were correlated (r = 0.45, p < 0.03). The highest mean plasma levels of orexin A and B were found in neonates and in children during puberty (orexin A: 1.02 +/- 0.17 ng/ml and 1.01 +/- 0.12 ng/ml, orexin B: 0.67 +/- 0.18 and 0.65 +/- 0.09 ng/ml, respectively) while in other groups the results were significantly lower. A significant negative correlation was found between BMI and the concentrations of orexin A (r = -0.51, p < 0.01) and orexin B (r = -0.45, p < 0.03). A positive correlation was found between the concentrations of both orexins and caloric demand (orexin A: r = 0.43, p < 0.05, orexin B: r = 0.48, p < 0.02). No correlation was found between the concentrations of orexins and the duration of sleep.
Conclusion:
Orexins play a significant role in children's growth as a long-term satiety factor and may coordinate energy homeostasis with sexual maturation.
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