AIM: To investigate serum leptin levels in breast-fed and formula-fed infants in infancy and their possible relationship to body mass index (BMI) in childhood. METHODS: We enrolled 237 healthy term infants between September 2000 and April 2004 and tested their serum leptin levels, took anthropometric measurements and calculated BMI. A follow-up study was carried out to evaluate the BMI of 89 of these infants in childhood, in relation to their serum leptin levels in infancy, at a median (interquatile range) age of 8.8 years (7.8-10.2). The statistical significance of this multivariate analysis was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Breast-fed infants had significantly higher serum leptin levels than formula-fed ones (p<0.05). Children who were formula fed in infancy had a significantly higher BMI, at follow up, than those who were breast fed (p<0.001). Furthermore, we identified a leptin cut-off value of 2.7 ng/ml, below which infants had a higher BMI in childhood. CONCLUSIONS: A higher leptin level in infancy may be inversely associated with BMI in childhood, suggesting that this hormone in infancy is a potential predictor of obesity in later life. Further investigation is required to be conclusive and to confirm our empirical evidence. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
High serum leptin levels in infancy can potentially predict obesity in childhood, especially in formula fed infants
SORRENTI, Miriam;CORDERO DI MONTEZEMOLO, Luca
2013-01-01
Abstract
AIM: To investigate serum leptin levels in breast-fed and formula-fed infants in infancy and their possible relationship to body mass index (BMI) in childhood. METHODS: We enrolled 237 healthy term infants between September 2000 and April 2004 and tested their serum leptin levels, took anthropometric measurements and calculated BMI. A follow-up study was carried out to evaluate the BMI of 89 of these infants in childhood, in relation to their serum leptin levels in infancy, at a median (interquatile range) age of 8.8 years (7.8-10.2). The statistical significance of this multivariate analysis was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Breast-fed infants had significantly higher serum leptin levels than formula-fed ones (p<0.05). Children who were formula fed in infancy had a significantly higher BMI, at follow up, than those who were breast fed (p<0.001). Furthermore, we identified a leptin cut-off value of 2.7 ng/ml, below which infants had a higher BMI in childhood. CONCLUSIONS: A higher leptin level in infancy may be inversely associated with BMI in childhood, suggesting that this hormone in infancy is a potential predictor of obesity in later life. Further investigation is required to be conclusive and to confirm our empirical evidence. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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