Total energy expenditure and the level of physical activity correlate with plasma leptin concentrations in five-year-old children.
Open Access
- 15 February 1997
- journal article
- Published by American Society for Clinical Investigation in JCI Insight
- Vol. 99 (4), 592-595
- https://doi.org/10.1172/jci119200
Abstract
Leptin, the product of the ob gene, is a hormone secreted by adipocytes that is known to decrease food intake and increase energy expenditure in ob/ob mice. In humans, variants in the OB gene have not been detected and very little is known about the action of leptin on food intake and energy expenditure, although circulating leptin concentrations are positively correlated to body fat stores. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between fasting plasma leptin concentrations and energy expenditure in 123 5-yr-old Pima Indian children (67 males/76 females). Body composition was assessed by isotopic water dilution (18O) whereas total energy expenditure (TEE) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were measured using doubly labeled water and indirect calorimetry, respectively. The physical activity level was calculated as the ratio of TEE:RMR. Plasma leptin concentrations were positively correlated to percent body fat (r = 0.84, P < 0.0001), but were similar in boys and girls after adjusting for percent body fat. Most importantly, we found that, independent of the percentage of body fat, plasma leptin concentrations correlated with TEE (in absolute values, r = 0.37, P < 0.0001, or adjusted for body size r = 0.42; P < 0.0001) and with physical activity level (r = 0.26, P < 0.01), but not RMR. These results suggest that, as in animal models, leptin plays a role in energy expenditure in humans.Keywords
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Specificity of Leptin Action on Elevated Blood Glucose Levels and Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y Gene Expression in ob/ob MiceDiabetes, 1996
- Obesity, Leptin, and the BrainNew England Journal of Medicine, 1996
- Serum Immunoreactive-Leptin Concentrations in Normal-Weight and Obese HumansNew England Journal of Medicine, 1996
- Leptin levels in human and rodent: Measurement of plasma leptin and ob RNA in obese and weight-reduced subjectsNature Medicine, 1995
- The role of neuropeptide Y in the antiobesity action of the obese gene productNature, 1995
- Recombinant Mouse OB Protein: Evidence for a Peripheral Signal Linking Adiposity and Central Neural NetworksScience, 1995
- Weight-Reducing Effects of the Plasma Protein Encoded by the obese GeneScience, 1995
- Effects of the obese Gene Product on Body Weight Regulation in ob / ob MiceScience, 1995
- Possible genetic influence on the strength of human muscle nerve sympathetic activity at rest.Hypertension, 1993
- Daily energy expenditure by five-year-old children, measured by doubly labeled waterThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1993