Leptin Levels among Prepubertal Children with Down Syndrome Compared with Their Siblings

Objectives To compare levels of leptin and other obesity-related hormones in prepubertal children with Down syndrome (DS), a population at high obesity risk, and those in unaffected siblings to better understand the pathophysiology of obesity in children with DS. Study design This was a cross-sectio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of pediatrics 2008-03, Vol.152 (3), p.321-326
Main Authors: Magge, Sheela N., MD, MSCE, O’Neill, Kristen L., MS, Shults, Justine, PhD, Stallings, Virginia A., MD, Stettler, Nicolas, MD, MSCE
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarkers - blood
Body Fat Distribution
Body Mass Index
Child
Child, Preschool
Chromosome aberrations
Cross-Sectional Studies
Down Syndrome - blood
Down Syndrome - diagnosis
Down Syndrome - epidemiology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
General aspects
Humans
Incidence
Leptin - blood
Leptin - metabolism
Male
Medical genetics
Medical sciences
Obesity - blood
Obesity - diagnosis
Obesity - epidemiology
Pediatrics
Probability
Prospective Studies
Reference Values
Risk Assessment
Siblings
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Summary:Objectives To compare levels of leptin and other obesity-related hormones in prepubertal children with Down syndrome (DS), a population at high obesity risk, and those in unaffected siblings to better understand the pathophysiology of obesity in children with DS. Study design This was a cross-sectional study of 35 children with DS and 33 control siblings, ages 4 to 10 years, with a fasting blood sample and anthropometric measurements to estimate body composition. Generalized estimating equations were used to account for the lack of independence between siblings. Results In addition to having higher body mass index and percent body fat, children with DS had higher leptin levels than unaffected siblings, even after adjustment for age, sex, race, and ethnicity (difference, 5.8 ng/mL; 95% CI, 2.4-9.3; P = .001) and further adjustment for percent body fat (difference, 2.7 ng/mL; 95% CI, 0.08-5.40, P = .04). Leptin and percent body fat were positively associated in both groups ( P < .0001), but with a significantly greater positive association in the DS group, suggesting a significant effect modification ( P < .0001). Conclusions This group of children with DS had increased leptin levels for percent body fat than their unaffected siblings. This difference may contribute to the increased risk for obesity in children with DS.
ISSN:0022-3476
1097-6833
DOI:10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.08.008