Longitudinal measures of circulating leptin and ghrelin concentrations are associated with the growth of young Peruvian children but are not affected by zinc supplementation.
BACKGROUND
Leptin, ghrelin, and insulin are hormonal regulators of energy balance and, therefore, may be related to growth during infancy. Zinc is essential for growth, and its growth effects may be mediated through these hormones.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the effects of supplemental zinc on plasma leptin, ghrelin, and insulin concentrations among young children at risk of zinc deficiency and examined the relations between these hormones and physical growth.


METHODS
Children (n = 142) aged 6-8 mo were randomly assigned to receive 3 mg Zn/d as a supplement, in a fortified food, or as a placebo for 6 mo. Relations between hormones and anthropometric z scores, body composition, and growth rates were examined at baseline and 3 and 6 mo after the start of the intervention.


RESULTS
No treatment group-related differences were found in plasma leptin, ghrelin, or glucose concentrations or in anthropometric z scores at 3 or 6 mo after the start of the zinc intervention. Neither plasma leptin nor ghrelin concentrations at baseline or 3 mo were predictive of subsequent changes in growth. However, changes in weight-for-age z scores over the two 3-mo time intervals were positively associated with subsequent leptin concentrations and inversely associated with subsequent plasma ghrelin concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplemental zinc did not affect the children's growth, anthropometric indexes, or plasma hormone concentrations in this study population. Our results suggest that plasma leptin and ghrelin concentrations in later infancy are a consequence of previous weight changes rather than predictors of short-term growth.
Arsenault
Joanne E
JE
Program in International and Community Nutrition , Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Havel
Peter J
PJ
López de Romaña
Daniel
D
Penny
Mary E
ME
Van Loan
Marta D
MD
Brown
Kenneth H
KH
D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010568:Peru; D013997:Time Factors; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology*
D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D014131:Trace Elements; D015032:Zinc