This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fors, H. Articles by Bjarnason, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fors, H. Articles by Bjarnason, R.

Serum Leptin Levels Correlate with Growth Hormone Secretion and Body Fat in Children¹

International Pediatric Growth Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics (H.F., H.M., S.R., K.A.W., R.B.) and Clinical Nutrition (I.B.), Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg University, S-413 45 Goteborg; and the Department of Pediatrics, Northern Alusborg Hospital (H.F.), S-461 85 Trollhattan, Sweden

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Hans Fors, International Pediatric Growth Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/East, S-416 85 Goteborg, Sweden. E-mail: hans.fors{at}mailbox.swipnet.se

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among GH secretion, leptin concentrations, and body composition measured with x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in children. In total, 71 children were investigated, 51 males and 20 females. Their mean chronological age was 10.8 yr (range, 6.2–17.7 ys), and their mean height (SD) was -2.1 (0.63) SD scores. Their mean weight for height SD scores (WH_SDS) was 0.2 (1.18). Body composition was investigated using DXA. Blood samples were taken for analysis of leptin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-binding protein-3, and 24-h GH secretion. A positive correlation was found between leptin and total body fat (r = 0.83; P < 0.0001) and when fat was expressed as a percentage of body weight (r = 0.86; P < 0.0001). There were significant (P < 0.0001) relationships between leptin and WH_SDS (r = 0.45) and between leptin and body mass index (r = 0.69). A significant gender difference in leptin levels was found, but this disappeared after adjustment for body fat, as measured by DXA. There were significant (P < 0.001) inverse correlations between leptin and the AUC_b for GH (r = -0.41), leptin, and GH_max (r = -0.38), where AUC_b is the area under the curve above the calculated baseline, and GH_max is the maximum peak during the 24-h GH profile (percent fat and AUC_b for GH, r = -0.43; percent fat and GH_max, r = -0.39). In a multiple stepwise forward regression analysis with leptin as the dependent variable, the percent trunk fat accounted for 77.7% of the leptin variation. With AUC_b for GH as the dependent variable, the percent trunk fat accounted for 20.3% of the variation. With GH_max as the dependent variable, the percent trunk fat accounted for 18.8% of the variation, IGF-binding protein-3 for another 8.5%, and the percentage of fat from arms and legs for another 4.4%.

We demonstrated a strong positive correlation between leptin levels and body fat, a significant negative correlation between leptin levels and GH secretion, and a significant negative correlation between body fat and GH secretion. We have also shown that specific regional fat depots have different relationships with leptin and particular markers of GH secretion.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Allvin, C. Ankarberg-Lindgren, H. Fors, and J. Dahlgren Elevated Serum Levels of Estradiol, Dihydrotestosterone, and Inhibin B in Adult Males Born Small for Gestational Age J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2008; 93(4): 1464 - 1469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Rasmussen, A. Juul, L. L. Kjems, and J. Hilsted Effects of short-term caloric restriction on circulating free IGF-I, acid-labile subunit, IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs)-1-4, and IGFBPs-1-3 protease activity in obese subjects. Eur. J. Endocrinol., October 1, 2006; 155(4): 575 - 581. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Ibanez, C. Valls, K. Ong, D. B. Dunger, and F. de Zegher Metformin Therapy during Puberty Delays Menarche, Prolongs Pubertal Growth, and Augments Adult Height: A Randomized Study in Low-Birth-Weight Girls with Early-Normal Onset of Puberty J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2006; 91(6): 2068 - 2073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Misra, K. K. Miller, K. Kuo, K. Griffin, V. Stewart, E. Hunter, D. B. Herzog, and A. Klibanski Secretory dynamics of leptin in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa and healthy adolescents Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, September 1, 2005; 289(3): E373 - E381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. G. Ramsay and M. P. Richards Hormonal regulation of leptin and leptin receptor expression in porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue J Anim Sci, December 1, 2004; 82(12): 3486 - 3492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Misra, K. K. Miller, C. Almazan, K. Ramaswamy, A. Aggarwal, D. B. Herzog, G. Neubauer, J. Breu, and A. Klibanski Hormonal and Body Composition Predictors of Soluble Leptin Receptor, Leptin, and Free Leptin Index in Adolescent Girls with Anorexia Nervosa and Controls and Relation to Insulin Sensitivity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2004; 89(7): 3486 - 3495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. De Marinis, A. Bianchi, A. Mancini, R. Gentilella, M. Perrelli, A. Giampietro, T. Porcelli, L. Tilaro, A. Fusco, D. Valle, et al. Growth Hormone Secretion and Leptin in Morbid Obesity before and after Biliopancreatic Diversion: Relationships with Insulin and Body Composition J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2004; 89(1): 174 - 180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Marzullo, C. Buckway, K. L. Pratt, A. Colao, J. Guevara-Aguirre, and R. G. Rosenfeld Leptin Concentrations in GH Deficiency: The Effect of GH Insensitivity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2002; 87(2): 540 - 545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. S. Randeva, R. D. Murray, K. C. Lewandowski, C. J. O'Callaghan, R. Horn, P. O'Hare, G. Brabant, E. W. Hillhouse, and S. M. Shalet Differential Effects of GH Replacement on the Components of the Leptin System in GH-Deficient Individuals J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2002; 87(2): 798 - 804. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Coutant, F. Boux de Casson, S. Rouleau, O. Douay, E. Mathieu, M. Audran, and J. M. Limal Body Composition, Fasting Leptin, and Sex Steroid Administration Determine GH Sensitivity in Peripubertal Short Children J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2001; 86(12): 5805 - 5812. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Coutant, F. Boux de Casson, O. Douay, E. Mathieu, S. Rouleau, F. Beringue, P. Gillard, J. M. Limal, and P. Descamps Relationships between Placental GH Concentration and Maternal Smoking, Newborn Gender, and Maternal Leptin: Possible Implications for Birth Weight J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2001; 86(10): 4854 - 4859. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Ghizzoni, G. Mastorakos, M. E. Street, G. Mazzardo, A. Vottero, M. Vanelli, and S. Bernasconi Leptin, Cortisol, and GH Secretion Interactions in Short Normal Prepubertal Children J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2001; 86(8): 3729 - 3734. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Heptulla, A. Smitten, B. Teague, W. V. Tamborlane, Y.-Z. Ma, and S. Caprio Temporal Patterns of Circulating Leptin Levels in Lean and Obese Adolescents: Relationships to Insulin, Growth Hormone, and Free Fatty Acids Rhythmicity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2001; 86(1): 90 - 96. [Abstract] [Full Text]