Neonatal Leptin Levels Predict the Early Childhood Developmental Assessment Scores of Preterm Infants

Robert D Roghair; Tarah T Colaizy; Baiba Steinbrekera; Réka A Vass; Erica Hsu; Daniel Dagle; Trassanee Chatmethakul

doi:10.3390/nu15081967

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Neonatal Leptin Levels Predict the Early Childhood Developmental Assessment Scores of Preterm Infants

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Neonatal Leptin Levels Predict the Early Childhood Developmental Assessment Scores of Preterm Infants

Robert D Roghair, Tarah T Colaizy, Baiba Steinbrekera, Réka A Vass, Erica Hsu, Daniel Dagle and Trassanee Chatmethakul

Nutrients, Vol.15(8), 1967

04/19/2023

DOI: 10.3390/nu15081967

PMCID: PMC10144252

PMID: 37111184

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Abstract

Preterm infants have low circulating levels of leptin, a key trophic hormone that influences growth and development. While the clinical importance of prematurity-associated leptin deficiency is undefined, recent preclinical and clinical investigations have shown that targeted enteral leptin supplementation can normalize neonatal leptin levels. We tested the hypothesis that, independent of growth velocity, prematurity-related neonatal leptin deficiency predicts adverse cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental outcomes. In a planned 2-year longitudinal follow-up of 83 preterm infants born at 22 to 32 weeks' gestation, we obtained blood pressures from 58 children and the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) for 66 children. Based on univariate analysis, blood pressures correlated with gestational age at birth (R = 0.30, < 0.05) and weight gain since discharge (R = 0.34, < 0.01). ASQ-3 scores were significantly higher in female than male children. Utilizing best subset regression with Mallows' C as the criterion for model selection, higher systolic blood pressure was predicted by rapid postnatal weight gain, later gestation at delivery and male sex (C = 3.0, R = 0.48). Lower ASQ-3 was predicted by lower leptin levels at 35 weeks postmenstrual age, earlier gestation at delivery and male sex (C = 2.9, R = 0.45). Children that had leptin levels above 1500 pg/mL at 35 weeks postmenstrual age had the highest ASQ-3 scores at 2 years. In conclusion, independent of growth velocity, higher leptin levels at 35 weeks' gestation are associated with better developmental assessment scores in early childhood. While longer-term follow-up of a larger cohort is needed, these findings support investigations that have suggested that targeted neonatal leptin supplementation could improve the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants.

Neonatology

Child Development

Breast Milk

Hypertension

nutrition

neurodevelopment

sexually dimorphic

outcomes

developmental delay

cardiovascular

Details

Title: Subtitle: Neonatal Leptin Levels Predict the Early Childhood Developmental Assessment Scores of Preterm Infants
Creators: Robert D Roghair - Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Tarah T Colaizy - University of Iowa
Baiba Steinbrekera - University of South Dakota
Réka A Vass - University of Pecs
Erica Hsu - Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Daniel Dagle - Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Trassanee Chatmethakul - University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Nutrients, Vol.15(8), 1967
DOI: 10.3390/nu15081967
PMID: 37111184
PMCID: PMC10144252
NLM abbreviation: Nutrients
ISSN: 2072-6643
eISSN: 2072-6643
Grant note: Strategic Investment / Stead Family Department of Pediatrics
Language: English
Date published: 04/19/2023
Academic Unit: Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Neonatology
Record Identifier: 9984399498202771

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