Looking for a relation between serum leptin concentration and body composition parameters in healthy term infants in the first 6 months of life.
We carried out a cross-sectional study of 115 healthy infants, younger than 6 months old, exclusively breast-fed or formula-fed, to investigate correlations between circulating leptin concentrations and body composition measurements. Serum leptin was evaluated with radioimmunoassay, and body composition with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Multiple regression analysis showed a relationship between serum leptin and body mass index in the entire study population (P = 0.042). There was a significant negative relationship between serum leptin and phase angle (P = 0.006) in formula-fed infants. Serum leptin was positively related to subscapular skinfold thickness (P = 0.055) and negatively to reactance (P = 0.057) only in formula-fed infants, although the differences were just below significance. Serum leptin concentration was higher in breast-fed infants (P = 0.002), and was not correlated with body composition parameters. This study indicates that there is a relation between leptin and infant body composition in the first months of life, although the link needs to be explored further.
Savino
Francesco
F
Department of Pediatrics, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, University of Turin, Italy. francesco.savino@unito.it
Liguori
Stefania Alfonsina
SA
Fissore
Maria Francesca
MF
Palumeri
Elisabetta
E
Calabrese
Roberto
R
Oggero
Roberto
R
Silvestro
Leandra
L
Miniero
Roberto
R
D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D041943:Infant Formula; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human; D012885:Skinfold Thickness
D020738:Leptin