Ghrelin Levels and Postnatal Growth in Healthy Infants 0-3 Months of Age

Abstract

Objective: The effect of ghrelin on growth of the newborn has long been argued, but not fully clarified. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between ghrelin levels and growth parameters in the first 3 months of life.Methods: The study included 60 babies (27 girls and 33 boys) born at gestational ages between 38-42 weeks. The newborns were divided into three groups according to the Lubchenco curves as: small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and large for gestational age (LGA). The relationship between ghrelin levels and growth parameters in the third month was investigated. Results: Ghrelin concentrations were significantly higher in SGA (2.4±2.6 ng/dL) babies than in AGA (1.3±0.9 ng/dL) and LGA (1.0±0.8 ng/dL) babies. The lowest ghrelin levels were in the LGA group. In SGA infants, ghrelin concentrations were inversely correlated with change in weight (r=-0.577; p=0.001), change in length (r=-0.361; p=0.005), and change in head circumference (r=-0.387; p=0.002).Conclusion: The results show that at age 3 months, SGA infants had higher ghrelin levels than AGA and LGA infants. Our findings indicate that ghrelin may be involved in the process of catch-up growth in these infants.Conflict of interest:None declared.

Appetite-regulating hormones in early life and relationships with type of feeding and body composition in healthy term infants

“…We could not identify differences in appetite-regulating hormones between boys and girls, which is in line with studies in older children and in a study with a subset of appetite-regulating hormones in infants [30, 37, 38]. …”

Appetite‐regulating hormones and anthropometric indicators of infants according to the type of feeding

“…For example, cephalic circumference as an indicator of brain growth is inversely and significantly related to ghrelin, while it correlates directly and significantly with leptin. Perhaps because there is a great need for brain growth in infants, there is a need for a higher concentration of ghrelin; this may be due to its role as an orexigenic hormone acting at key hypothalamic and midbrain circuits involved in feeding control to ensure adequate nutrient intake (Fidanci et al, ; Méquinion et al, ). However, direct and higher concentrations of leptin could be an indicator of the assurance of energy reserves that would promote brain growth.…”

Hyperghrelinemia in Prader‐Willi syndrome begins in early infancy long before the onset of hyperphagia

“…Ghrelin has been suggested to play a critical role in fetal adaptation to intrauterine malnutrition as well as in catch-up growth in small for gestational age (SGA) infants [Bellone et al, 2006; Fidancı et al, 2010; Sahin et al, 2012]. Significantly elevated total and active ghrelin levels have been observed in SGA and preterm infants [Fidancı et al, 2010; Sahin et al, 2012] as well as in the umbilical cord of SGA infants [Abdel Hakeem et al, 2012], leading us to hypothesize that intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight are possible physiological stimulants for ghrelin secretion. It is therefore possible that the elevated ghrelin levels observed in infants with PWS are a physiological response to their being born on average about 15% underweight relative to their normal siblings [Miller et al, 2011].…”

“…It plays important roles in neurogenesis, memory, learning, behavior, sleep, pituitary hormone (especially growth hormone) secretion, and glucose and lipid metabolism [Claudia Theander-Carrillo 2006; Kojima and Kangawa 2010; van der Lely et al, 2004]. It is also important in early embryonic development and perinatal growth [Steculorum and Bouret 2011] and is thought to be involved in the process of ‘catch-up’ growth in small for gestational age infants [Fidancı et al, 2010; Iñiguez et al, 2002]. …”