Investigation Of Levels Of Serum Leptin And GHBP In 2-7 Year-old Children Born Small For Gestitational Age And Their Relationships With Growth

Objectives: To study the levels of serum leptin and GHBP and their roles onthe growth of children age 2-7 years old with bron small for gestational age. Methods: A group of 60 SGA and 40 AGA children aged 2 to 7 were assigned to an experimental group and a control group. The serum level of leptin and GHBP were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA). The body weight, body length and BMI were recorded. The relationship between the serum level of leptin, GHBP and child growth were analyzed. Results: a)The level of serum leptin in SGA group was much lower than that in AGA group and statistic significance difference was showed(p<0.001). b)There was a positive correlation between serum leptin level and body weight, length, age and BMI . The curve of the serum leptin concentration paralleled with that of GHBP, which indicated the positive relations between them and the levels of serum leptin and GHBP correlated positively withBMI. Weight, body length, GHBP and BMI independently influenced the serum leptin level, c) In both SGA group and AGA group, the level of serum leptin in female was significantly higher than that in male(/?<0.05). Conclusions: The serum leptin concentration was lower in SGA group than that the AGA group; there was a strongly positive correlation between serum leptin level and body weight, length, and BMI. This shows that leptin is an important factor in the growth of children of 2-7 years old group. The level of serum leptin may be a marker of nutritional status in children of this age group. The fact of low leptin level and low GHBP level in children born SGA provides an evidence that leptin may be critical in growth. With this finding we can look for the 'therapeutic time window' and provide better intervention in children born SGA.