Pol Merkuriusz Lek. 2004 Apr;16(94):340-3. Related Articles, Links  

[Serum leptin concentration and some lipid parameters in vegetarian children]

[Article in Polish]

Laskowska-Klita T, Ambroszkiewicz J, Klemarczyk W.

Zaklad Biochemii i Diagnostyki Laboratoryjnej Instytutu Matki i Dziecka w
Warszawie.

Leptin, a hormone from adipose tissue, regulates feeding behavior, satiation
rate, energy expenditure and also plays an important role in maturation and
reproduction. Recent studies support the concept that several factors such as a
diet may influence on leptin levels. The aim of this study was to investigate
serum concentration of leptin and lipids status in prepubertal children aged
from 2 to 10 years with two different nutritional habits: vegetarian (n = 24)
and omnivorous diet (n = 20). Serum leptin concentration was determined by
immunoenzymeassay (ELISA). Serum lipids (cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol,
triglyceride) were measured by enzymatic and apolipoproteins by
immunoturbidimetric methods. We noticed that in vegetarian diet there is a high
rate of fiber (nearly twice as high as in omnivorous diet) and polyunsaturated
acids (35% as much). In our study vegetarian children had lower total
cholesterol and cholesterol in fractions HDL and LDL than meat eaters did. Also
the apolipoproteins levels in vegetarian children were significantly below that
of nonvegetarians. There is no differences in triglyceride concentration
between the two groups of children. The mean serum leptin level in vegetarian
children was significantly lower (3.1 +/- 1.2 ng/mL) as compared with the
omnivores (5.6 +/- 2.1 ng/mL) (p < 0.0001).

PMID: 15517929 [PubMed - in process]

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