title: Serum leptin and lactational amenorrhea in well-nourished and undernourished lactating women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the possible role of leptin in the resumption of postpartum menstruation in lactating women with differing nutritional statuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of data and blood samples collected during a previous prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Undernourished (body mass index [BMI]< or =19 kg/m(2)) and well-nourished (BMI> or =26 kg/m(2)) lactating women who resumed regular menstruation before 24 weeks and at or after 24 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous blood samples at four-weekly intervals and other clinical data collected until resumption of regular menstruation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum leptin concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leptin concentrations were significantly higher in the well-nourished than in the undernourished women, irrespective of the time of resumption of menstruation. Time of resumption of menstruation did not significantly affect leptin levels within well-nourished and undernourished groups. Leptin significantly correlated with BMI (r = 0.78). The BMI (r = -0.53), but not leptin, was significantly and negatively correlated with the duration of lactational amenorrhea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leptin is unlikely to be a major determinant of early resumption of regular menstruation in well-nourished women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Kynsey Road, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka. khtennekoon@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kamani H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tennekoon
authors.forename: Sudharshani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wasalathanthri
authors.forename: Siththamparampillai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeevathayaparan
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Karunanayake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood*; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000502:physiology; D015596:Nutrition Assessment
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin