Gut hormone profiles in preterm and term infants during the first 2 months of life.

AIM: To investigate changes of gut hormones in term and preterm infants in the first 2 months after birth, as the role and relationships of gut hormones in premature infants has not been well elucidated.

METHODS

In 29 preterm and five term infants, fasting serum concentrations of leptin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), pancreatic polypeptide, insulin, amylin, and ghrelin were measured using a bead array system.

RESULTS

Serum leptin concentration soon after birth showed a positive correlation with gestational week in all infants (r=0.623, p<0.01). Serum leptin level rapidly decreased in all infants. In preterm infants, serum GLP-1 levels at birth showed negative correlations with gestational week (r=-0.447, p=0.02). Serum GIP, GLP-1, and PYY levels increased after birth and were persistently high until 10 weeks of life.

CONCLUSION

Serum concentrations of different gut hormones changed postnatally in their specific ways in preterm infants.