Role of circulating nesfatin-1 in the underweight children with poor appetite

S. Kaba, K. Karaman, U. Kömüroğlu, K.A Bala, N. Demir, S. Kocaman, M. Doğan, N. Ceylan

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Yüzüncü Yıl University, School of Medicine, Van, Turkey. sultan33kaba@hotmail.com

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• Nutrition

OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum concentration of nesfatin-1 in underweight children who have poor appetite, and its association with anthropometric markers of malnutrition.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We recruited 50 underweight children and adolescents (aged 2-18 years) who presented with loss of appetite. Thirty age- and sex-matched controls were also included in the study. Fasting serum nesfatin-1 concentrations were measured by using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique.

RESULTS: Mean nesfatin-1 level was significantly higher in underweight children when compared to controls (p<0.001). There was no correlation between serum nesfatin-1 levels and anthropometrics markers.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that nesfatin-1 might have an important role in regulation of food intake and pathogenesis of loss of appetite in children.

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