title: Sexual dimorphism in the early life programming of serum leptin levels in European adolescents: the HELENA study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a lower birth weight, as an indicator of adverse intrauterine environment, is associated with higher serum leptin levels in European adolescents. We also examined the possible sexual dimorphism in this relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting serum leptin was measured in 757 European born at term adolescents (429 females) aged 14.6 ± 1.2 yr. We measured weight and height, and body mass index was calculated. Birth weight, duration of pregnancy, and duration of breast-feeding were obtained from parental records. Duration of pregnancy and breast-feeding, pubertal status, center, body mass index, and physical activity were entered as confounders in the analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant interaction effect between sex and birth weight on serum leptin levels (P = 0.044). We observed that body weight at birth was negatively and significantly associated with serum leptin levels only in female adolescents (β = -0.109; adjusted P = 0.008). The association persisted after further controlling for physical activity (β = -0.115; adjusted P = 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide further evidence for a sex-specific programming effect of birth weight on serum leptin levels. Our results also contribute to explain the detrimental health effects associated with lower birth weight, such as long-term increased risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of the Basque Country, 01006 Vitoria, Spain idoia.labayen@ehu.es
authors.forename: Idoia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Labayen
authors.forename: Jonatan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
authors.forename: Francisco B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dehenauw
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Breidenassel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Pavón
authors.forename: Khrisna E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Vyncke
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Censi
authors.forename: Dénés
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Widhalm
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kafatos
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plada
authors.forename: Ligia E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Ascensión
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gottrand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000378:metabolism*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin