Serum leptin levels in healthy adolescents: Effects of gender and growth.
- Author:
Tiankui WANG
1
;
Ikuharu MORIOKA
;
Yoshiaki GOWA
;
Yuko IGARASHI
;
Nobuyuki MIYAI
;
Hiroichi YAMAMOTO
;
Mikio ARITA
;
Shintaro TAKEDA
;
Kazuhisa MIYASHITA
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: adolescent growth; leptin; maximum increment age (MIA); menarcheal age (MA); standard curves
- From:Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2004;9(2):41-46
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVESThe purposes of this paper were to evaluate the serum leptin levels in healthy adolescents and to establish standard age variation curves.
METHODSNine hundred six (414 boys and 492 girls) healthy adolescents were investigated. The maximum increment age in height (MIA) was identified in 124 boys and 130 girls. The menarcheal age (MA) was obtained for 130 girls. Fasting leptin levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay. The MIA was calculated by proportional allotment of yearly height increments.
RESULTSSerum leptin levels did not change in boys and girls from the ages of 9 to 11. They decreased after the age of 11 in boys, while they increased in girls. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that serum leptin levels were closely related to pubertal stage. The levels decreased remarkably after MIA in boys and increased remarkably after MA in girls. We drew standard age variation curves of serum leptin levels by calculating the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles for each age in both boys and girls. The percentile curves for boys were divided into pre-MIA and post-MIA curves. Those for girls were divided into pre-MA and post-MA curves.
CONCLUSIONWe have devised a potentially useful method for evaluating serum leptin levels in adolescents considering the effects of gender and growth.
