Relationship between Catch-up Growth and Changes in Insulin, Leptin, IGF-I, Adiponectin, and Ghrelin in Infants Born Full-term Small for Gestational Age

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate postnatal changes in growth and insulin, leptin, IGF-I, adiponectin, and ghrelin, and to examine the relationship of these hormones with catch-up growth in full-term small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Methods: SGA was defined as a birth weight less than the ten percentile. Weight and height were measured at birth, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years of age in 70 SGA infants (40 females and 30 males). The infants were subdivided according to their weight and height catch-up growth (CUG) at 2 years old. CUG is defined as reaching a standard deviation score (SDS) of -2 SDS. Blood samples were serially taken for insulin, leptin, insulin- ˃ like growth factor (IGF)-I, adiponectin, and ghrelin. Results: 1) Dramatic CUG for weight and height occurred during the first year of life; weight and height growth gain decreased thereafter. 2) Non-catch-up growth (NCUG) infants showed more decreased weight and height growth gain than CUG infants between the first and second year of life. 3) Weight CUG was 77.1% and height CUG was 75.8% in the SGA infants. 4) Weight CUG infants showed significantly higher leptin and ghrelin levels than in weight NCUG infants at the age of 1 year (P 0.05). 5) Height CUG infants showed significantly higher ˂ leptin and ghrelin levels than in height NCUG infants at the age of 1 year (P 0.05). ˂ Conclusion: CUG for weight and height occurred during the first year of life and growth velocity decreased thereafter. Significant corresponding changes occurred with regard to serum leptin and ghrelin. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Endocrinol 2011;16:112-118)