The role of leptin, soluble leptin receptor, adiponectin and visfatin in insulin sensitivity in preterm born children in prepubertal ages.
BACKGROUND
There are still controversies whether insulin resistance (IR) develops in preterm born children during early childhood.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of leptin, soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R), adiponectin, visfatin and insulin sensitivity in the pathogenesis of possible IR in preterm born children during early childhood.


PATIENTS AND METODS
Twenty-nine preterm small for gestational age (SGA) born children (Group 1) and 25 preterm appropriate for gestational age (AGA) born children (Group 2), matched for gestational age and sex were included in the study. Mean chronological age at investigation was 3.3±0.7years and not different between the groups. Blood samples for fasting blood glucose, insulin, proinsulin, adiponectin, leptin, sOB-R and visfatin were obtained.


RESULTS
Mean height and weight standard deviation scores (SDS) at investigation were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2, but there was no significant difference in body mass index (BMI) SDS between the groups. Catch-up growth (CUG) was higher in Group 1 than in Group 2. There was no difference regarding homeostasis model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR), leptin, sOB-R, adiponectin, proinsulin and visfatin values between the groups. In the whole group, log visfatin showed a negative correlation with Δweight SDS. There was a positive correlation between HOMA-IR and BMI SDS. Adiponectin levels showed a positive correlation with log visfatin levels in all groups.


CONCLUSION
Preterm born children whether AGA or SGA do not show IR in early childhood if BMI is normal. Significant differences between the preterm SGA and preterm AGA groups regarding the adipocytokine levels were not detected.