Body composition influences serum leptin concentration in children † 418


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BACKGROUND. Serum leptin concentrations are elevated in children with increased body fatness. However, there is a gender-based divergence in this relationship. We hypothesized that body


composition, fat distribution, and body size may contribute to the gender differences. METHODS. Serum leptin concentrations were measured by immunoassay in 87 boys and 86 girls, ages 4 - 18


y. Total body and regional body composition were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Sexual maturation was based on Tanner stage. RESULTS. Serum leptin concentrations were higher


in girls than boys (_p_<0.001), and were positively correlated with total body fat mass (_p_<0.0005) and with regional fat mass(_p_<0.01-0.001) for each gender, while negatively


correlated(_p_<0.03) with fat-free mass. The fat/lean ratio was better than fat mass alone as a predictor for elevated serum leptin concentrations in boys, but not for girls. When


adjusted for plasma volume, total leptin content remained highly correlated (_p_<0.0005) with fat mass, was independent of gender, and was not affected by fat-free mass or fat


distribution. CONCLUSION. Serum leptin concentrations are a better reflection of body fatness in girls than in boys. Fat distribution did not account for this gender difference. The altered


serum leptin - fat relationship for boys may indicate interference related to changes in sex hormone levels during growth. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Amgen, Inc., Thousand


Oaks, CA Kenneth J Ellis & Margery Nicolson * USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Res. Ctr., Dept. Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hosp., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, 77030, TX


Kenneth J Ellis & Margery Nicolson Authors * Kenneth J Ellis View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Margery Nicolson View author


publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Spon by: William Heird) (This work is funded in part by the USDA/ARS under Cooperative


Agreement 58-6250-6-001.) RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Ellis, K., Nicolson, M. Body Composition Influences Serum Leptin Concentration


in Children † 418. _Pediatr Res_ 43 (Suppl 4), 74 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199804001-00439 Download citation * Issue Date: 01 April 1998 * DOI:


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