All issues > Volume 43(4); 2000

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2000;43(4):550-555. Published online April 15, 2000.

Serum Leptin Levels in Children with Type I Diabetes Mellitus

Eun Sil ES Lee¹, Han Ku HK Moon¹, Yong Hoon YH Park¹, Yong Woon YW Kim²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea
²Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: Leptin is a highly hydrophobic 16-kDa protein encoded by the ob gene which is expre- ssed in adipocytes and participates in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. The aims of the present study were to examine the comparison of leptin levels between type I diabetes mellitus(DM) patients who received exogenous insulin therapy and healthy children, and to find out correlating factors with leptin level in type I DM.
Methods
: The study was conducted on 34 patients with type I DM and 29 healthy children. Body weight, height, leptin level and body fat percent were measured in both groups. The glycosylated hemoglobin value, C-peptide, insulin level and serum cholesterol were also measured in type I DM.
Results
: There was no statistically significant difference in mean age, sex distribution and body mass index between the experimental groups, but body fat percent in type I DM was significantly lower than that of healthy children. The mean leptin levels in male(9.4¡¾6.3ng/mL) and female(17.8¡¾10.2ng/mL) type I DM were significantly higher than in male(6.3¡¾5.7ng/mL) and female(10.2¡¾0.9ng/mL) healthy children(male : P=0.045, female : P=0.005). Serum leptin levels were strongly correlated with the body fat percent(Pearson coefficient)(r=0.712).
Conclusion
: Serum leptin level in type I DM strongly correlated with the body fat percent. Despite lowered body fat percent in type I DM, the leptin level was significantly higher than values in healthy children. The mean leptin level in type I DM were significantly higher than value in healthy children, but body fat percent of type I DM was lower than value in healthy children who were adjusted for sex, age and body mass index.

Keywords :Leptin, Insulin, Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Body fat percent