Relationships between leptin, insulin, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in children with energy malnutrition.
OBJECTIVE
Leptin has a key role in energy homeostasis and there may be a link between leptin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) system. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between long-lasting insufficient caloric intake (marasmus), leptin and IGF-1 system.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 30 marasmic children and control group included 28 healthy children. After an overnight fasting; leptin, insulin, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were measured.


RESULTS
Marasmic children had significantly lower body weight, height, mid-arm circumference (MAC), skinfold thickness, mean serum leptin, insulin, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels compared with healthy subjects (P<0.05). Serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly correlated with insulin, MAC and height Z score in patients (P<0.05). In controls, significant positive correlations were found between BMI, IGF-1 and leptin (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Energy malnutrition is characterized by the important decreases in the leptin, insulin, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels. Understanding details of these changes may lead to new therapeutic approaches in disease states associated with malnutrition.
Haspolat
Kenan
K
Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University, Medical School, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Ece
Aydin
A
Gürkan
Fuat
F
Atamer
Yildiz
Y
Tutanç
Murat
M
Yolbaş
Ilyas
I
D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis*
D007328:Insulin; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D020738:Leptin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I