Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

1.2K

Preterm born 9-year-olds have elevated IGF-1 and low prolactin, but levels vary with behavioural and eating disorders

A Kistner1,2, E Deschmann3,4, L Legnevall4

  • 1Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|July 22, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Preterm children show higher rates of behavioral and eating disorders linked to lower levels of key hormones like leptin, insulin, and IGF-1. These findings suggest potential hormonal imbalances contributing to these conditions in low birthweight individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Neurobehavioral Disorders
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Low birthweight, including preterm birth and small for gestational age, is associated with long-term health risks.
  • Hormonal dysregulation, particularly involving hypothalamic-associated hormones, may play a role in neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for early intervention and management of behavioral and eating disorders in vulnerable children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between hypothalamic-associated hormones and the prevalence of behavioral and eating disorders in children born with low birthweight.
  • To compare hormone levels and disorder prevalence between preterm, small for gestational age, and full-term control children.
  • To explore potential hormonal underpinnings of neurobehavioral and eating disturbances in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 100 children (mean age 9.7 years) was studied, comprising preterm (<32 weeks gestation), full-term small for gestational age, and full-term controls.
  • Behavioral histories were assessed, and fasting blood samples were analyzed for leptin, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), prolactin, glucagon, and cortisol.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to compare hormone levels and disorder prevalence across groups, adjusting for confounders.

Main Results:

  • Preterm children exhibited lower prolactin and higher IGF-I levels compared to controls, despite being shorter than predicted.
  • Behavioral disorders were more prevalent in preterm children (38%) than controls (10%), as were eating disorders (26% vs. 8%).
  • These disorders were associated with lower levels of leptin, insulin, and IGF-I, with combined disorders observed exclusively in the shortest preterm children.

Conclusions:

  • Behavioral and eating disorders in preterm children are associated with reduced levels of leptin, insulin, and IGF-I.
  • Low prolactin levels in preterm children may indicate increased dopaminergic tone, potentially affecting weight gain.
  • Findings suggest possible IGF-I receptor insensitivity as a contributing factor to these observed associations.
Abstract

Keywords:
Dopaminergic tonusInsulin-like growth factor-1LeptinProlactinTarget height deviation

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

90.5K
Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats05:57

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats

Published on: June 27, 2014

13.0K

Related Concept Videos

Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
2.0K
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
1.1K
Bulimia Nervosa01:30

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
1.1K
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
1.4K
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
1.2K
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
19.4K