RELATIONSHIP OF BREAST MILK LEPTIN WITH MATERNAL AND INFANT ADIPOSITY

Abstract

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Leptin, the product of the obese gene (ob), is synthesized by adipose
tissue and contributes to the regulation of energy homeostasis and food intake. Recently,
immunoreactive leptin was reported to be present in human milk. The aim of this study
was to determine any possible link between breast milk leptin concentrations and
adiposity in exclusively breast-fed infants.
METHODS: 130 healthy, exclusively breast-fed infants beyond neonatal period and
their mothers were included in the study. Infants whose weight for age was above the
75th, and between 25th and 75th percentiles were defined as obese (n=65) and non-obese
(n=65), respectively. Anthropometric measur ements of infants and mothers were also
made and breast milk samples were analyzed for leptin.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference between breast milk leptin
concentrations of mothers of obese and non-obese infants. Breast milk leptin
concentrations significantly correlated with mothers' body mass index (r=0.54, P<0.001)
and weight (r=0.46, P<0.001). There was no significant correlation between breast milk
leptin concentrations and weight of infants.
CONCLUSIONS: Leptin concentrations of human milk are not different in the mothers of
obese and non-obese infants. Our findings suggest that milk-borne leptin has no
significant effect on adiposity during infancy.
Key Words: Breast milk, leptin, infant, adiposity.