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PEDIATRICS Vol. 113 No. 5 May 2004, pp. 1273-1278

Serum Leptin Concentration Poorly Reflects Growth and Energy and Nutrient Intake in Young Children

Maarit Hakanen, MD*, Tapani Rönnemaa, MD, PhD{ddagger}, Sanna Talvia, MSc*, Leena Rask-Nissilä, MD, PhD§, Markku Koulu, MD, PhD||, Jorma Viikari, MD, PhD{ddagger}, Matti Bergendahl, MD, PhD§,¶, Olli Simell, MD, PhD§

* The Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
{ddagger} Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
§ Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
|| Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

Objective. We studied whether the serum leptin concentration at age 2 years predicts changes in relative body weight by age 8 and whether the serum leptin concentration is associated with intake of energy and nutrients at age 5.

Methods. A total of 156 8-year-old participants of the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project were chosen to represent children whose relative weight decreased, was stable, or increased during the preceding 6 years. Their serum leptin concentrations were measured in samples collected when they were 2 years. Serum leptin was also measured in 100 5-year-old children in the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project whose energy and nutrient intakes were analyzed using 4-day food records.

Results. The boys whose relative weight decreased (n = 25), was stable (n = 28), or increased (n = 26) between 2 and 8 years of age had similar serum leptin concentrations at the age of 2 years. The girls whose relative weight decreased (n = 27) had higher serum leptin concentrations at 2 years than the girls whose relative weight remained stable (n = 26) but only when the leptin values were not adjusted for body mass index. The serum leptin concentration was higher in 5-year-old girls than in 5-year-old boys even when adjusted for body mass index. Serum leptin correlated with relative weight in girls and boys (r = 0.65 and r = 0.45, respectively). Serum leptin concentration adjusted for relative weight correlated poorly with intakes of energy, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sucrose, and protein.

Conclusions. Serum leptin concentrations at age 2 poorly predicted changes in relative body weight during the following 6 years and poorly reflected the intake of energy or major nutrients at age 5.

Key Words: leptin • growth • dietary factors • childhood obesity

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index • STRIP, Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project

Received for publication Feb 12, 2003; Accepted Jul 8, 2003.


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