Serum fibroblast growth factor 21 levels are inversely associated with growth rates in infancy
Verónica Mericq1, Francesco De Luca, Maria I Hernandez
1Institute of Maternal and Child Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a metabolic regulator. This study suggests FGF21 negatively impacts human infant growth, showing an inverse correlation with linear growth rate during infancy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Regulation
- Human Growth and Development
Background:
- Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is recognized as a key regulator of metabolism and growth.
- Understanding FGF21's role during infancy is crucial for pediatric health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific role of FGF21 in regulating infant growth.
- To determine the relationship between FGF21 levels and growth parameters in preterm and term infants.
Main Methods:
- Collected cord blood and serum samples from 95 newborns and 80 infants at 6 and 12 months.
- Measured FGF21, leptin, insulin, and glucose levels.
- Recorded infant length and weight from birth to 12 months.
Main Results:
- Preterm infants exhibited greater linear growth and weight gain than term infants from birth to 12 months.
- Serum FGF21 levels were significantly higher in term infants at 6 months compared to preterm infants.
- Serum FGF21 showed an inverse correlation with linear growth rate in infants during the first year of life.
Conclusions:
- FGF21 levels in infancy are inversely correlated with the rate of linear growth.
- These findings suggest FGF21 acts as a negative regulator of human growth during infancy.
Background:
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a metabolic and growth regulator.
Aim:
To investigate the role of FGF21 during growth in infancy.
Methods:
Blood samples for FGF21, leptin, insulin and glucose were collected from cord blood obtained from 95 preterm and term newborns (cross-sectional group), and at 6 and 12 months of life in 80 preterm and term infants (longitudinal group). Length and weight were measured at birth, 6 months, and 12 months.
Results:
From birth through 12 months of age, preterm infants' linear growth and weight gain were larger than those of term infants, irrespective of birth weight SDS. At birth and at 12 months, there was no difference in FGF21 levels between preterm and term infants; in contrast, at 6 months, serum FGF21 in term infants was significantly higher than that of preterm ones. In the 0-6-month period, in the whole longitudinal group, serum FGF21 was inversely correlated to the length change SDS, and such a significant inverse correlation persisted in the preterm-AGA group in the 6-12-month period. In addition, term infants who experienced length catch-up in the first 6 months of life exhibited lower serum FGF21 levels at 6 months, and those with length catch-up growth between 6 and 12 months had a greater decrease of serum FGF21 level in the same time period.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that FGF21 in infancy is inversely correlated with linear growth rate, thus suggesting that FGF21 is a negative regulator of human growth.
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