Study On Serum Leptin And Insulin Related With Growth & Development In Preterm Infants

Objective To study the relationship between the serum leptin and insulin levels and growth & development in preterm infants. Try to evaluate the function of leptin in regulating the growth & development and to explore whether"adipoinsular axis"is functional in premature infants.Methods 1.Objects:74 preterm infants and 20 term infants without asphyxia ,congenital malformation , polluted amniotic fluid ,maternal antenal dexamethsone treatment who were admitted to our hosptial from 2007.6 to 2008.12 were recruited. 2.Research methods: 1). Questionnaire:to survey the style of delivery,gender,gestation age,birth weight,Apgar score,amniotic fluid and state of maternal health for all infants. 2).Physical examination:to measure and record the anthropometric measurements of preterm infants including head circumference ,body length,birth weight,and the days return to birth weight, feeding intolerance. 3). Sample test: The serum leptin and insulin concentrations of 74 preterm infants were examined by the radioimmunoassay (day1 and day7～10 ,respectively).3.Data analysis:The datas were analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software.Results1. The leptin and insulin levels in preterm infants were significantly lower than those in full- term infants (P<0.05). And the level of leptin and insulin in the preterm infants whose gestation age was not enough 34 weeks were lower than that of gestation age past 34 weeks(P<0.05).2.The leptin level of preterm infants decreased significantly(P<0.05),while the insulin level increased 7～10 days later (P<0.05).3. Both serum leptin and insulin were correlated with gestation age,head circumference ,body length,birth weight,body mass index (P<0.05).There were no correlation between leptin or insulin and serum glucose, triglyeride, cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (P>0.05).4.Serum leptin was positive correlation with serum insulin in preterm infants whether small or large for 34 weeks gestation age(P<0.01), but there was no correlation with insulin : glucose (P>0.05) . 5.The levels of serum leptin and insulin in premature infants had correlation withfeeding intolerance(P<0.05),but there was mo correlation between that and the days return to birth weight (P>0.05).Conclusion1. The serum leptin and insulin can be used as the markers that reflect intrauterine nutrition status of preterm infants and the growth & development of fetus.2. Adipoinsular axis might be functional in preterm infant before 34 weeks gestation age without maturity.3. The high levels of serum leptin and insulin at birth were benefical to feed.Birth weight recovering might be effected by other factors but leptin and leptin.