Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

The Effects of Exercise on Body Weight and Circulating Leptin in Premature Infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 22, pages 550–554 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of daily movements on weight gain, serum leptin, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in premature infants.

STUDY DESIGN: Twenty very-low-birth-weight premature infants were matched and randomized to a daily movement (n=10) and control groups (n=10). Daily movement consisted of passive range of motion with gentle compression of both the upper and lower extremities 5 days per week for 4 weeks.

RESULTS: Daily movements led to a significant increase in weight gain (784±51 vs 608±26 g in movements and controls, respectively, p<0.02), and to a significant increase in leptin (0.60±0.19 vs 0.13±0.06 ng/ml in movements and controls, respectively, p<0.05). Changes in body weight correlated with changes in serum leptin (r=0.48, p<0.03). IGF-I also increased following daily movements (18.8±4.1 vs 9.2±4.1 ng/ml in movements and controls, respectively); however, this increase was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: A relatively brief range of motion daily movement intervention was associated with greater weight gain and increased leptin levels in very-low-birth-weight premature infants. This may suggest that at least part of the daily movements associated with increase in body weight resulted from an increase in adipose tissue.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhang Y, Proenca R, Maffei M, Barone M, Leopold L, Friedman JM . Positional cloning of the mouse obese gene and its human homologue Nature 1994 372: 425–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Considine RV . Regulation of leptin production Rev Endocrinol Metab Dis 2001 2: 357–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Considine RV, Sinha M, Heiman ML et al. Serum immuno-reactive leptin concentration in normal weight and obese humans N Engl J Med 1996 334: 292–5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hassink SG, Sheslow DV, de Lancey E, Opentanova I, Considine RV, Caro JF . Serum leptin in children with obesity: relationship to gender and development Pediatrics 1996 98: 201–3

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wiznitzer A, Furman B, ZuiliI B, Shany S, Reece A, Mazor M . Cord leptin level and fetal macrosomia Obstet Gynecol 2000 96: 707–13

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Matsuda J, Yokota I, Iida M et al. Serum leptin concentration in cord blood: relationship to birth weight and gender J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997 82: 1642–4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wolf HJ, Ebenbichler CF, Huter O et al. Fetal leptin and insulin levels only correlate in large for gestational age infants Eur J Endocrinol 2000 142: 623–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gomez L, Carrascosa A, Yeste D et al. Leptin values in placental cord blood of human newborns with normal intra-uterine growth after 30–42 weeks of gestation Horm Res 1999 51: 10–4

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Matsuda J, Yokota I, Iida M et al. Dynamic changes in serum leptin concentration during the fetal and neonatal periods Pediatr Res 1999 45: 71–5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Harigaya A, Onogata K, Nako Y, Nagashima K, Morikawa A . Role of serum leptin in the regulation of weight gain in early infancy Biol Neonat 1999 75: 234–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ng PC, Lam CWK, Lee CH et al. Changes of leptin and metabolic hormones in premature infants: a longitudinal study in early postnatal life Clin Endocrinol 2001 54: 673–80

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Spear ML, Hassink SG, Leef K et al. Immaturity or starvation? Longitudinal study of leptin levels in premature infants Biol Neonat 2001 80: 35–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Moyer-Mileur LJ, Leutkemeier M, Boomer L, Chan GM . Effect of physical activity on bone mineralization in premature infants J Pediatr 1995 127: 620–5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Moyer-Mileur LJ, Brunstetter V, McNaught TP, Gill G, Chan GM . Daily physical activity program increases bone mineralization and growth in preterm very low birth weight infants Pediatrics 2000 106: 1088–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Nemet D, Dolfin T, Litmanowitz I, Shainkin-Kestenbaum R, Lis M, Eliakim A . Evidence for exercise-induced bone formation in premature infants Int J Sports Med 2002 23: 82–5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Reseland JE, Syversen U, Bakke I et al. Leptin is expressed in and secreted from primary cultures of human osteoblasts and promotes bone mineralization J Bone Miner Res 2001 16: 1426–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kume K, Satomura K, Nishisho S et al. Potential role of leptin in endochondral ossification J Histochem Cytochem 2002 50: 159–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Klauwer D, Blum WF, Hanitsch S, Rascher W, Lee PD, Kiess W . IGF-I, IGF-II, free IGF-I and IGFBP-1, -2, and -3 levels in venous cord blood: relationship to birth weight, length, and gestational age in healthy newborns Acta Pediatr 1997 86: 826–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Eliakim A, Brasel JA, Mohan S, Barstow TJ, Berman N, Cooper DM . Physical fitness, endurance training, and the GH–IGF-I system in adolescent females J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1996 81: 3986–92

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Poehlman ET, Copeland KC . Influence of physical activity on insulin-like growth factor I in healthy younger and older men J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990 71: 1468–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Resto M, O'Connor D, Leef K, Funanage V, Spear M, Locke R . Leptin levels in preterm human breast milk and infant formula Pediatrics 2001 108: E15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gutin B, Ramsey L, Barbeau P et al. Plasma leptin concentration in obese children: changes during 4-mo period with and without physical training Am J Clin Nutr 1999 69: 388–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Perusse L, Collier G, Gagnon J et al. Acute and chronic effects of exercise on leptin levels in humans Am J Physiol 1997 83: 5–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hickey MS, Houmard JA, Considine RV et al. Gender-dependent effects of exercise training on serum leptin levels in humans Am J Physiol 1997 274: E562–6

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pasman WJ, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Saris WHM . The effect of exercise training on leptin levels in obese males Am J Physiol 1998 274: E280–6

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Thong FS, Hudson R, Ross R, Janssen I, Graham TE . Plasma leptin in moderately obese men: Independent effects of weight loss and aerobic exercise Am J Physiol 2000 279: E307–13

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Eliakim A, Brasel JA, Mohan S, Wong WLT, Cooper DM . Increased physical activity and the growth hormone–IGF-I axis in adolescent males Am J Physiol 1998 275: R308–14

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Falk B, Eliakim A, Dotan R, Liebermann DG, Regev R, Bar-Or O . Birth weight and physical ability in 5 to 8 yr old healthy children born prematurely Med Sci Sports Exerc 1997 29: 1124–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank MaryAnn Hill, PhD, from the University of California, Irvine, CA, USA, for her help in performing the statistical analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Meir General Hospital, Kfar-Saba, The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Alon Eliakim MD & Dan Nemet MD

  2. Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Meir General Hospital, Kfar-Saba, The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Tzipora Dolfin MD

  3. Endocrinology Laboratory, Meir General Hospital, Kfar-Saba, The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Eli Weiss MSc

  4. Biochemical Laboratories, Meir General Hospital, Kfar-Saba, The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Ruth Shainkin-Kestenbaum PhD & Monica Lis MSc

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Center for the Study of Health Effects of Exercise in Children, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

    Dan Nemet MD

Authors
  1. Alon Eliakim MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tzipora Dolfin MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eli Weiss MSc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ruth Shainkin-Kestenbaum PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Monica Lis MSc
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dan Nemet MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Biostatistics consult: MaryAnn Hill, PhD, Biostatistician, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, USA.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eliakim, A., Dolfin, T., Weiss, E. et al. The Effects of Exercise on Body Weight and Circulating Leptin in Premature Infants. J Perinatol 22, 550–554 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210788

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210788

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links