Role of Circulating Nesfatin-1 in the Underweight Children With Poor Appetite

Abstract

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.