Size at birth and plasma leptin concentrations in adult life

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dc.contributor.authorPhillips, D.
dc.contributor.authorFall, C.
dc.contributor.authorCooper, C.
dc.contributor.authorNorman, R.
dc.contributor.authorRobinson, J.
dc.contributor.authorOwens, P.
dc.date.issued1999
dc.description.abstract<h4>Objective</h4>To determine whether low birthweight is associated with higher plasma leptin concentrations in adult life and whether leptin contributes to the metabolic alterations in adults that are associated with reduced foetal growth.<h4>Design</h4>Measurement of plasma leptin concentrations in a group of 502 men and women, aged 61-73, who were born in Hertfordshire and for whom records of birth and infant weight are available. Glucose tolerance was measured with a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.<h4>Measurements</h4>Leptin concentrations were assayed in fasting plasma samples using a radioimmunoassay.<h4>Results</h4>Leptin concentrations ranged from 1.4 to 128.9 (mean 13.4) ng/ml and were higher in the 193 women than the 309 men (23.4 vs. 7.1 ng/ml). In both sexes leptin concentrations correlated positively with body mass index (r=0.65 in both men and women). Leptin concentration also correlated with fasting insulin (r=0.41) and with glucose and insulin concentrations 2 h after a glucose load (r=0.19 and 0.49). Adults with lower birth or infant weight had higher leptin concentrations than those of higher birthweight with similar degrees of obesity (P=0.02 and 0.06, respectively). Although both 2 h glucose and insulin concentrations negatively correlated with birthweight (r=-0.17, P<0.001 and r=-0.18, P<0.001, respectively), regression analysis suggested that the higher levels of leptin in adults who had low birthweight did not explain the association between low birthweight and glucose or insulin concentrations.<h4>Conclusion</h4>These results suggest that adults who had had low birthweight had higher plasma concentrations of leptin than would be expected from their degree of obesity. The higher leptin concentrations, however, do not account for the association between birthsize and glucose tolerance. They may be a consequence of the altered body composition, hyperinsulinaemia, and other long-term endocrine changes associated with reduced foetal growth.
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal of Obesity, 1999; 23(10):1025-1029
dc.identifier.doi10.1038/sj.ijo.0801050
dc.identifier.issn0307-0565
dc.identifier.issn1476-5497
dc.identifier.orcidNorman, R. [0000-0002-3118-3896]
dc.identifier.orcidRobinson, J. [0000-0002-4515-6039]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/8249
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSTOCKTON PRESS
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801050
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectBirth Weight
dc.subjectInsulin
dc.subjectLeptin
dc.subjectBlood Glucose
dc.subjectGlucose Tolerance Test
dc.subjectBody Mass Index
dc.subjectFasting
dc.subjectRegression Analysis
dc.subjectSex Characteristics
dc.subjectAged
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectMale
dc.titleSize at birth and plasma leptin concentrations in adult life
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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