Postnatal Leptin Levels Correlate with Breast Milk Leptin Content in Infants Born before 32 Weeks Gestation

Trassanee Chatmethakul; Mendi L Schmelzel; Karen J Johnson; Jacky R Walker; Donna A Santillan; Tarah T Colaizy; Robert D Roghair

doi:10.3390/nu14245224

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Postnatal Leptin Levels Correlate with Breast Milk Leptin Content in Infants Born before 32 Weeks Gestation

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Postnatal Leptin Levels Correlate with Breast Milk Leptin Content in Infants Born before 32 Weeks Gestation

Trassanee Chatmethakul, Mendi L Schmelzel, Karen J Johnson, Jacky R Walker, Donna A Santillan, Tarah T Colaizy and Robert D Roghair

Nutrients, Vol.14(24), p.5224

12/08/2022

DOI: 10.3390/nu14245224

PMCID: PMC9782260

PMID: 36558383

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Abstract

Perinatal leptin deficiency and reduced intake of mother's milk may contribute to the development of childhood obesity. Preterm infants have reduced leptin production, and they are at heightened risk of neonatal leptin deficiency. Because fresh human milk contains significantly more leptin than donor milk, we used a cross-over design to determine if blood leptin levels in maternal milk-fed preterm infants fall during conversion to donor human milk. Infants born between 22 0/7 and 31 6/7 weeks gestation on exclusive maternal milk feedings were enrolled into a 21-day cross-over trial. On days 1-7 and 15-21, infants were fed maternal milk, and on days 8-14, infants were fed donor milk. On day 1, study infants had a mean postmenstrual age of 33 weeks. Plasma leptin correlated with milk leptin, and leptin levels in maternal milk far exceed the leptin levels of donor milk. Plasma leptin did not increase during donor milk administration, but it did following resumption of maternal milk ( < 0.05). In this crossover trial, preterm infant blood leptin levels correlated with milk leptin content. This suggests that preterm infants can enterally absorb leptin from human milk, and leptin-rich breast milk may be a targeted therapy for the prevention of obesity.

Obesity

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leptin

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Details

Title: Subtitle: Postnatal Leptin Levels Correlate with Breast Milk Leptin Content in Infants Born before 32 Weeks Gestation
Creators: Trassanee Chatmethakul - University of Iowa
Mendi L Schmelzel - Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Karen J Johnson - Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Jacky R Walker - Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Donna A Santillan - University of Iowa
Tarah T Colaizy - University of Iowa
Robert D Roghair - Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Nutrients, Vol.14(24), p.5224
DOI: 10.3390/nu14245224
PMID: 36558383
PMCID: PMC9782260
NLM abbreviation: Nutrients
ISSN: 2072-6643
eISSN: 2072-6643
Grant note: Strategic Investment / University of Iowa
Language: English
Date published: 12/08/2022
Academic Unit: Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Neonatology
Record Identifier: 9984339406802771

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