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Peer problems are associated with elevated serum leptin levels in children

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

G. Kohlboeck ,
M. Romanos ,
C. Tiesler ,
S. Koletzko ,
J. Kratzsch ,
J. Thiery ,
C.-P. Bauer ,
A. von Berg ,
D. Berdel  and
B. Hoffmann
...Show all authors
G. Kohlboeck*
Affiliation:
Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology I, Neuherberg, Germany
M. Romanos
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Germany
C. Tiesler
Affiliation:
Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology I, Neuherberg, Germany Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany
S. Koletzko
Affiliation:
Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany
J. Kratzsch
Affiliation:
University Leipzig, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Germany
J. Thiery
Affiliation:
University Leipzig, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Germany
C.-P. Bauer
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Technical University of Munich, Germany
A. von Berg
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Marien-Hospital Wesel, Germany
D. Berdel
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Marien-Hospital Wesel, Germany
B. Hoffmann
Affiliation:
Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, University of Düsseldorf, Germany
B. Schaaf
Affiliation:
Medical Practice for Pediatrics, Bad Honnef, Germany
I. Lehmann
Affiliation:
UFZ-Center for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
O. Herbarth
Affiliation:
University Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Environmental Medicine and Hygiene, Leipzig, Germany
J. Heinrich
Affiliation:
Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Epidemiology I, Neuherberg, Germany
*
* Address for correspondence: G. Kohlboeck, Ph.D., Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institut für Epidemiologie, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Leptin is thought to act as an important mediator in stress reactions. To date, no study has examined the association between psychological stress and leptin levels in children. This study aimed to assess the association between emotional symptoms and peer problems and serum leptin levels in children aged 10 years of the two population-based GINI-plus and LISA-plus birth cohorts.

Method

Cross-sectional data from 2827 children aged 10 years were assessed with regard to leptin concentrations in serum and behavioral problems using the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Linear regression modeling was applied to determine the likelihood of elevated leptin levels in children with emotional symptoms and peer problems, controlling for socio-economic status (SES), body mass index (BMI), fasting serum leptin levels, pubertal development and sex hormones.

Results

We found that increases in emotional symptoms (exp βadj = 1.03, s.e. = 0.02, p < 0.04) and peer problems (exp βadj = 1.05, s.e. = 0.01, p = 0.0001) were significantly associated with higher serum leptin levels controlled for BMI and sociodemographic factors. Similar results were found when the fasting serum leptin sample was examined (exp βadj = 1.08, s.e. = 0.04, p = 0.0294). Gender-stratified analyses showed a significant relationship between serum leptin and peer problems in girls (exp βadj = 1.05, s.e. = 0.02, p = 0.03), and a borderline significant association in boys (exp βadj = 1.04, s.e. = 0.02, p = 0.05).

Conclusions

Children with peer problems have higher stress and eat more, acquire a higher body fat mass and thus, through increased leptin resistance, exhibit higher leptin levels.

Keywords

Behavior problemsdepressionepidemiologyHPA axisleptinobesitypeer relationship problemspsychopathologystress
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , January 2014 , pp. 255 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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