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106

Gut hormone profiles in preterm and term infants during the first 2 months of life

Ryou Kawamata, Yume Suzuki, Yukari Yada

    Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism : JPEM
    |February 28, 2014
    PubMed

    Insights

    Gut hormone levels, including leptin, GIP, GLP-1, and PYY, change distinctively after birth in preterm infants. These hormonal shifts are crucial for understanding infant development and metabolic regulation.

    Area of Science:

    • Neonatal physiology
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology

    Background:

    • Gut hormones play a vital role in infant development and metabolism.
    • Limited understanding exists regarding the specific roles and dynamics of gut hormones in premature infants.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the postnatal changes in various gut hormones in both term and preterm infants during the first two months of life.
    • To elucidate the specific patterns and relationships of gut hormones in preterm infants.

    Main Methods:

    • Fasting serum concentrations of key gut hormones (leptin, GIP, GLP-1, PYY, pancreatic polypeptide, insulin, amylin, ghrelin) were measured.
    • A bead array system was utilized for precise quantification of hormone levels.
    • The study included a cohort of 29 preterm and 5 term infants.

    Main Results:

    • Serum leptin levels at birth positively correlated with gestational week and rapidly decreased postnatally.
    • In preterm infants, serum GLP-1 levels at birth showed a negative correlation with gestational week.
    • Serum GIP, GLP-1, and PYY levels demonstrated an increase after birth, remaining elevated for up to 10 weeks.

    Conclusions:

    • Gut hormone concentrations exhibit unique postnatal changes in preterm infants.
    • These findings contribute to a better understanding of the endocrine-metabolic adaptations in preterm neonates.
    Abstract

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