Increased concentrations of serum nesfatin-1 levels in childhood with idiopathic chronic malnutrition

Abstract

Background/aim: Nesfatin-1, an anorexigenic molecule, seems to play a role in appetite regulation and energy homeostasis. The goalof this study was to evaluate the relation of nesfatin-1 with anthropometric and metabolic (ghrelin, leptin) parameters in children withidiopathic chronic malnutrition.Materials and methods: The study included 37 underweight and 38 healthy children who were similar regarding age, sex, and pubertalstatus. Anthropometric and biochemical (nesfatin-1, ghrelin, and leptin levels) variables were assessed.Results: A total of 37 underweight subjects (mean age 10.5 ± 2.6 years) and 38 heathy subjects (mean age 10.3 ± 2.3 years) wererecruited. Underweight children had significantly higher nesfatin-1 (2.76 ± 0.4 vs. 1.56 ± 0.7, P < 0.001) and lower leptin levels (2.21 ±2.0 vs. 5.21 ± 2.4, P < 0.001) than those of the control subjects. Nesfatin-1 levels were significantly associated with only leptin levels, afteradjusting for age and BMI (r = –0.371, P = 0.001).Conclusion: The present study is the first to evaluate nesfatin-1 levels in relation with anthropometric and metabolic parameters inchildren with chronic malnutrition, who were subsequently found to have significantly higher nesfatin-1 levels. Our study underlinesthat nesfatin-1 may play a role in the development of malnutrition by inhibiting food intake in children.