title: Ghrelin levels and postnatal growth in healthy infants 0-3 months of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of ghrelin on growth of the newborn has long been argued, but not fully clarified. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between ghrelin levels and growth parameters in the first 3 months of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 60 babies (27 girls and 33 boys) born at gestational ages between 38-42 weeks. The newborns were divided into three groups according to the Lubchenco curves as: small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and large for gestational age (LGA). The relationship between ghrelin levels and growth parameters in the third month was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ghrelin concentrations were significantly higher in SGA (2.4±2.6 ng/dL) babies than in AGA (1.3±0.9 ng/dL) and LGA (1.0±0.8 ng/dL) babies. The lowest ghrelin levels were in the LGA group. In SGA infants, ghrelin concentrations were inversely correlated with change in weight (r=-0.577; p=0.001), change in length (r=-0.361; p=0.005), and change in head circumference (r=-0.387; p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that at age 3 months, SGA infants had higher ghrelin levels than AGA and LGA infants. Our findings indicate that ghrelin may be involved in the process of catch-up growth in these infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, GATA Medical Faculty, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kürşad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fidancı
authors.forename: Cihan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meral
authors.forename: Selami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Süleymanoğlu
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Pirgon
authors.forename: Ferhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karademir
authors.forename: Seçil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydınöz
authors.forename: Halit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Özkaya
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gültepe
authors.forename: İsmail
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Göçmen
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin