Association between leptin, markers of bone formation and physical growth of newborns.
BACKGROUND
The increase of body size and weight depends on metabolism in the bone tissue and accumulation of fat, but the role of many hormones and enzymatic systems that may influence these processes significantly has not been recognized.


OBJECTIVE
An attempt to assess the correlation between the leptin hormone taking part in the regulation of fat tissue reserves, markers of bone formation and selected anthropometric traits in newborns was made.


METHODS
Levels of leptin, osteocalcin and C-terminal propeptide type I procollagen (PICP) in the serum of 64 Appropriate for Gestational Age newborns (AGA newborns) with gestational age between 27 and 42 weeks were assessed. In parallel, 15 anthropometric traits were measured and the Quetelet Index was calculated for all the newborns. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's correlation and Spearman's correlation rank test. p < 0.05 was regarded as significant.


RESULTS
Statistically significant correlations between leptin, osteocalcin, PICP and selected anthropometric traits in newborns were found. There were no statistically significant correlations between serum levels of leptin and markers of bone formation in the investigated group of children.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, we documented the association of leptin, osteocalcin and PICP with overall physical growth of AGA newborns. We did not confirm the relationship between leptin and bone formation in this stage of ontogenesis.
Furmaga-Jabłońska
W
W
Department of Developmental Paediatrics, Medical University School of Lublin, Children's University Hospital, 20-093 Lublin, ul. Chodźki 2, Poland.
Kulik-Rechberger
B
B
Kozłowska
M
M
D000886:Anthropometry; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors
D020738:Leptin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C042813:procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide; D015675:Osteocalcin