Leptin levels in breast-fed and formula-fed infants.
OBJECTIVE
Leptin, a hormone that regulates food intake and energy metabolism, is present in breast milk and thus may be involved in body composition differences between breastfed and formula-fed infants. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether diet and gender affect plasma leptin concentration in breastfed and formula-fed infants during the first months of life.


METHODS
Anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance measurements [total body water (TBW) calculated with the Fjeld equation] were made and venous blood plasma samples were analysed for leptin concentration in healthy, exclusively breastfed or formula-fed Italian infants in the first year of life. Infants were subdivided in two ways: three groups (periods) in relation to age, and five groups in relation to weight.


RESULTS
The average serum concentration of leptin was 7.35 ng x ml(-1). Serum leptin values were higher in breastfed than in formula-fed infants. Breastfed infants in group I had a statistically higher serum leptin concentration (2,500-3,749 g). There were no significant differences in anthropometric measurements, body mass index or skinfold thickness between breastfed and formula-fed infants. In the periods I and II, breastfed infants had a significantly higher TBW than formula-fed infants. Males had a significantly higher TBW than females in periods I and II. Breastfed infants in group 2 (3,750-4,999 g) had a significantly higher TBW than formula-fed infants.


CONCLUSIONS
The data on TBW, weight and skinfold thickness suggest that the higher leptin concentration observed in breastfed infants in the first months of life may be due not only to adipose tissue production but also to human milk.
Savino
F
F
Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche e dell'Adolescenza, Università di Torino, Ospedale Regina Margherita, Italy. savino@pediatria.unito.it
Costamagna
M
M
Prino
A
A
Oggero
R
R
Silvestro
L
L
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D020738:Leptin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors
D020738:Leptin