LEPTIN AND GROWTH HORMONE (GH)/ INSULIN-LIKE
GROWTH FACTOR (IGF) SYSTEM IN OBESE CHILDREN
Liu Li, Zhao Xiaoyuan, Wu
Dongyan, Cai Yanna,
Department of
Endocrinology, Guangzhou Children Hospital, China
Objective: We measured serum
levels of leptin, GH, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in obesity children to investigate
the relationship between leptin and GH/IGF system.
Method: 30 (12 girls and 18
boys) aged 10.2+/-2.4 years, weighted 56.9+/-19.3 kilogram, BMI 57.5+/-19.6
simple obese and 30 age-matched non-obese healthy children were included in
the study. Serum leptin, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were measured in the
basal state after an overnight fast. GH stimulation tests with insulin and
arginine were performed in obesity group. Results: The peak of GH was 2.1+/-3.6 ng/ml in insulin
stimulation test and was 1.1+/-1.7 ng/ml in arginine stimulation test.
Leptin, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 was 34.8+/13.8 ng/ml, 167.2+/-119.1
ng/ml and 7494.0+/-1676.8 ng/ml respectively in obesity group, and was
<0.5 ng/ml, 62.1+/-40.8 ng/ml and 5275.2+/-1922.8 ng/ml respectively in
non-obesity group. Leptin, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were all significantly higher in
obesity group than in non-obesity group (P<0.01). There was no
correlation between leptin and IGF-I(P>0.05) or leptin and IGFBP-3
(P>0.05).
Conclusions: Growth hormone was
lower, but leptin, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were all significantly higher in
obesity children. The mechanism of these changes and their role in obesity
still need to be studied.