Gut hormones of preterm infants with abdominal symptoms and hypothyroxinemia
Ryou Kawamata1, Yume Suzuki1, Yukari Yada1
1Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
Insights
Thyroid hormone levels in preterm infants affect gut hormones. Supplementation with levothyroxine sodium (T4-Na) normalized levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and peptide YY (PYY), resolving abdominal symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Abdominal symptoms in preterm infants with hypothyroxinemia lack clear pathogenesis.
- Thyroid hormone deficiency may impact gastrointestinal function in neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hypothyroxinemia and gut hormone levels in preterm infants.
- To assess the effect of levothyroxine sodium (T4-Na) supplementation on gut hormone concentrations and abdominal symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Measured fasting serum concentrations of multiple gut hormones (leptin, GIP, GLP-1, PYY, etc.) in preterm infants and controls using a bead array system.
- Compared hormone levels before and after T4-Na supplementation in infants with abdominal symptoms.
Main Results:
- Preterm infants with hypothyroxinemia and abdominal symptoms had lower serum levels of GLP-1, GIP, and PYY compared to controls.
- Following T4-Na supplementation and symptom improvement, these gut hormone levels increased significantly.
- Post-supplementation hormone levels in the infant group normalized to those of the control group.
Conclusions:
- Serum levels of GLP-1, GIP, and PYY are potentially linked to thyroid function in preterm infants.
- Thyroid hormone status may play a role in regulating gut hormone secretion and gastrointestinal function in neonates.
Background:
The pathogenesis of abdominal symptoms in premature infants with hypothyroxinemia is not understood; therefore, we investigated changes in gut hormones before and after levothyroxine sodium (T4-Na) supplementation in preterm infants with abdominal symptoms and hypothyroxinemia.
Methods:
In eight preterm study subjects and 14 gestational age-matched controls, fasting serum concentration of leptin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), pancreatic polypeptide, insulin, amylin and ghrelin was measured using a bead array system.
Results:
Serum GLP-1, GIP and PYY in the subjects before T4-Na supplementation were lower than in controls at age 2 weeks. After improvement of abdominal symptoms and free thyroxine, serum levels of the three gut hormones in the subjects were increased and were not different from those in the control patients.
Conclusions:
In preterm infants with abdominal symptoms, serum GLP-1, GIP and PYY might be related to thyroid function.
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