Leptin and IGFBP1 in subjects born small

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Low IGF-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) can predict the development of type 2 diabetes. In this study, Kistner and colleagues investigated the leptin, insulin and IGFBP1 levels in SGA patients to evaluate the role of leptin as a compensatory mechanism in insulin resistance development. They found elevated leptin levels and low IGFBP1 levels in SGA. IGFBP1 levels were inversely correlated with leptin and were suppressed in relation to insulin. The authors suggest that high leptin levels could be a protective event to enhance hepatic insulin sensitivity.

Read the full article in Kistner et al (2013) Endocrine Connections 2 38—49 DOI: 10.1530/EC-12-0071