leptin and Autism-Spectrum-Disorder

The objective of this systematic review was to determine the current state of the literature regarding how adipocytokines associate with mental health symptoms/disorders in youth. Findings summarized in this review suggested that in neurodevelopmental disorders, higher levels of leptin, ghrelin, resistin, and visfatin as well as lower levels of adiponectin, retinol-binding protein 4, and progranulin predicted increased risk for or were conflated with autism spectrum disorder. Adipocytokine correlates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and related symptoms included higher apelin, higher leptin-to-adiponectin ratio, and lower adiponectin. Evidence from studies examining anxiety symptoms evinced mixed results regarding leptin, and one study suggested higher levels of ghrelin. Depressive symptoms correlated with higher leptin and ghrelin. Research examining posttraumatic stress symptoms found higher levels of ghrelin. In research examining broadband symptoms, conflicting results emerged for associations between internalizing symptoms (i.e., symptoms of emotional stress) and leptin in youth. Low levels of adiponectin and high levels of leptin predicted externalizing symptoms. Total symptom difficulties were associated with a higher leptin-to-adiponectin ratio. Our findings suggest that adipocytokines may be an important set of biomarkers to consider as underlying mechanisms contributing to developmental psychopathology.

Topics: Adipokines; Adiponectin; Adolescent; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Ghrelin; Humans; Leptin; Mental Health

We examined the relationship between weight status, appetite regulating hormones, and mealtime behaviors among children, (5-12 years old), diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a cross-sectional study. All (N = 21) completed anthropometry measurements and (n = 18) provided blood samples for hormone analysis. Mealtime behavior, dietary, physical activity, puberty stage, and social impairment data were collected. Under fasting conditions, overweight/obese (OWOB) participants, (n = 6), had higher leptin concentrations (p < 0.02) and more feeding challenges (p < 0.05) than normal weight (n = 15). Higher leptin levels and disruptions in mealtime behaviors may exist among OWOB children in this study. Future longitudinal studies that examine appetite regulating hormones and mealtime behaviors may inform our understanding of the role of these markers in the development of obesity in ASD.

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feeding Behavior; Food Preferences; Humans; Leptin; Meals; Pilot Projects

Leptin, which plays a key role in energy homeostasis, is known as a neurotrophic factor possibly linking nutrition and neurodevelopment. Available data on the association between leptin and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are confusing. The aim of this study was to explore whether plasma levels of leptin in pre- and post-pubertal children with ASD and/or overweightness/obesity differ from those of BMI- and age-matched healthy controls. Leptin levels were determined in 287 pre-pubertal children (mean age 8.09 years), classified as follows: ASD with overweightness/obesity (ASD+/Ob+); ASD without overweightness/obesity (ASD+/Ob-); non-ASD with overweightness/obesity (ASD-/Ob+); non-ASD without overweightness/obesity (ASD-/Ob-). The assessment was repeated in 258 of the children post-pubertally (mean age 14.26 years). There were no significant differences in leptin levels either before or after puberty between ASD+/Ob+ and ASD-/Ob+ or between ASD+/Ob- and ASD-/Ob-, although there was a strong trend toward significance for higher pre-pubertal leptin levels in ASD+/Ob- than in ASD-/Ob-. Post-pubertal leptin levels were significantly lower than pre-pubertal levels in ASD+/Ob+, ASD-/Ob+, and ASD+/Ob- and higher in ASD-/Ob-. Leptin levels, elevated pre-pubertally in the children with overweightness/obesity as well as in children with ASD and normal BMI, decrease with age, in contrast to the increasing leptin levels in healthy controls.

Topics: Adolescent; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Body Mass Index; Child; Humans; Ideal Body Weight; Leptin; Obesity; Puberty

This study aimed to investigate the role of leptin, ghrelin, neuropeptide Y, and nesfatin-1 in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 44 children with ASD and 44 healthy controls aged 18-60 months were included. Plasma levels of hormones were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Plasma leptin and ghrelin levels were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the control group. However, no significant difference for plasma neuropeptide Y and nesfatin-1 levels was detected between the groups. No relation was found between the severity of ASD symptoms, severity of eating problems, and plasma levels of hormones. Leptin and ghrelin may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of ASD.

Topics: Appetite; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Biomarkers; Child, Preschool; Female; Ghrelin; Humans; Infant; Leptin; Male; Neuropeptide Y; Nucleobindins

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of conditions characterized by impaired social function and repetitive behaviors. Their etiology is largely unknown.. This work aims to examine the associations of maternal second-trimester and cord blood leptin and adiponectin levels with ASDs in offspring.. We used data from 1164 mother-child pairs enrolled in Project Viva, a prospective prebirth cohort. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the associations of leptin and adiponectin levels in maternal second-trimester blood and cord blood obtained at birth with ASDs. Additionally, we examined the association of maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) as an exposure. Main outcome measures included doctor-diagnosed ASDs reported by mothers using questionnaires in midchildhood and early adolescence.. The cumulative incidence of ASDs was 3.4%. Maternal prepregnancy BMI (per 5 points) was positively associated with ASDs in a logistic regression model adjusted for maternal race/ethnicity, education, smoking status and child sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.38; 95% CI, 1.06-1.79). Higher second-trimester adiponectin was associated with lower odds of ASD in offspring (unadjusted OR 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30-0.78; and OR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32-0.91 after adjusting for maternal race/ethnicity, education, child sex, OR 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33-0.93 after adjusting for BMI, gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, and smoking status). Maternal leptin and cord blood leptin and adiponectin levels were not associated with ASDs.. Prepregnancy BMI and adiponectin during pregnancy may be useful as a tool to monitor the risk of autism. Increasing adiponectin levels prenatally may play a role in the prevention of ASDs.

Topics: Adiponectin; Adult; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Body Mass Index; Female; Fetal Blood; Humans; Leptin; Logistic Models; Maternal Exposure; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Prospective Studies

Leptin is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in energy homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that leptin levels are altered in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, this has not been studied prospectively. Rapid growth during infancy and early childhood has been implicated in ASD, but the evidence is inconsistent. As leptin is involved in growth and is a potential risk factor for ASD, we explored the associations between (a) cord, early childhood leptin and ASD; and (b) birth weight for gestational age, early childhood weight gain, and ASD. We also assessed the mediating role of leptin in the relationship between weight gain during infancy and ASD. This study was conducted in a sample of 822 subjects from the Boston Birth Cohort. ASD was defined from diagnostic codes in electronic medical records. Extremely rapid weight gain during infancy was associated with a greater ASD risk and this persisted after adjusting for potential confounders (aOR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.37, 7.07). Similarly, children that had higher plasma leptin levels, prior to ASD diagnosis, had an increased ASD risk in both unadjusted and adjusted models (aOR: 7.87; 95% CI: 2.06, 30.04). Further, early childhood leptin indirectly mediated the relationship between rapid weight gain and ASD. No associations were found between birth weight for gestational age, cord leptin and risk of ASD. Our findings provide a basis to further explore whether the combination of early life growth pattern and a biomarker such as leptin can predict ASD earlier. Autism Res 2018, 11: 1416-1431. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Is early life growth and a biomarker leptin related to ASD risk? To answer this question, we followed 822 children from birth and found that those who gained weight very quickly in infancy, had higher leptin levels in early childhood, had a greater chance of later ASD diagnosis. More research is needed to see if infant's weight gain pattern along with a biomarker (such as leptin) can be used to identify children with ASD sooner.

Topics: Adult; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Biomarkers; Boston; Child; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Female; Fetal Development; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Leptin; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Pregnancy; Risk Factors