Circulating ghrelin levels in newborns are not associated to gender, body weight and hormonal parameters but depend on the type of delivery.
Ghrelin, a new gastric-derived hormone, probably plays a major role in managing energy balance and the neuroendocrine response to starvation. Information about the age-related variation in ghrelin secretion is scanty. We measured circulating ghrelin levels in 93 full term newborns adequate for gestational age, in 39 normal children and in 19 lean healthy adults. Our findings demonstrate that ghrelin levels are independent of age and gender from birth to adulthood. Interestingly, ghrelin secretion at birth is not associated to body weight and hormonal parameters such as GH, insulin and leptin levels. On the other hand, ghrelin levels seem dependent on the type of delivery, being lower in newborns after caesarean section with respect to those after normal delivery.
Bellone
S
S
Unit of Pediatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
Rapa
A
A
Vivenza
D
D
Vercellotti
A
A
Petri
A
A
Radetti
G
G
Bellone
J
J
Broglio
F
F
Ghigo
E
E
Bona
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002648:Child; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000145:classification; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D054439:Ghrelin; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D001786:Blood Glucose; D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone