Serum Leptin Levels in Marasmic Children and the Relationship between Leptin and Lipid Profile

Abstract

Background and Aims: Leptin and dyslipidemia are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We measured leptin and lipid levels, and examined whether there is an effect of leptin on lipid profile in marasmic children. Methods: Fifty children (25 marasmic, 25 healthy) aged between 0.3 and 2.5 years were evaluated. Leptin levels were compared with lipid profile in marasmic and healthy children. The relationships between leptin and sex, body mass index and lipid profile were investigated in marasmic children. Results: In the marasmic group, body mass index, leptin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lower (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.01, respectively), and triglyceride levels higher than in the control group. In females, leptin was correlated positively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.002), and inversely correlated with the triglyceride level (p = 0.003). In males, a positive correlation was found between leptin and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.026). In female patients, body mass index, leptin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lower (p < 0.0001, for all) when compared to their female controls. In male patients, body mass index, leptin, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were lower (p < 0.0001, p = 0.031, p = 0.002, p = 0.017, respectively) than those in their male controls. Conclusion: As a result, we found low leptin (an independent cardiovascular risk factor) levels, but dyslipidemia in our marasmic patients. Dyslipidemia may be a risk factor for cardiovascular complications in marasmic children in the future.

Neurocognitive Functions in Infants with Malnutrition; Relation with Long-chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Micronutrients Levels and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

“…Serum lipid profiles were studied in malnourished children previously, and similar to our study total cholesterol levels were found to be low in malnourished children compared to healthy controls in all studies [18192021]. Additionally, they also found that low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein levels were low and triglyceride levels were high in malnourished children.…”

Malnutrition Causing Neonatal Dyslipidemia

“…However, in that study, children with marasmus who were 12‐27 months of age had high cholesterol and triglyceride levels for age (149 ± 13 mg/dL and 171 ± 17 mg/dL, respectively). Other authors showed that the blood lipids in marasmic children can be normal 12 or elevated, especially triglycerides, 15 associating this finding with a defect in removal of blood triglycerides in consequence of reduced LPL activity 16…”

Association between insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 and leptin levels with nutritional status in 1–3-year-old children, residing in the central region of Limpopo Province, South Africa

“…It has been shown that leptin correlates with the individual's body weight, fat mass and BMI but like the IGF axis it is affected by extremes in energy intake such as fasting and overfeeding 12 , 14 . Leptin levels have been found to be low in many forms of malnutrition, including intra-uterine growth retardation and malnourishment 15 , 16 . Thus leptin levels were analysed in this group of children.…”