Effects of methylphenidate on appetite and growth in children diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

• Published in: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 85 - 92
• Main Authors: Gurbuz, Fatih, Gurbuz, Berrak Bilginer, Celik, Gonca Gul, Yildirim, Veli, Ucakturk, Seyit Ahmet, Seydaoglu, Gulsah, Ucakturk, Eda Mengen, Topaloglu, Ali Kemal, Yuksel, Bilgin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 01.01.2016; Walter de Gruyter GmbH
• Subjects: Adolescent; appetite; Appetite - drug effects; attention deficit and hyperactivity; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - blood; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - complications; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; Biomarkers - blood; Body Height; Body Weight; Case-Control Studies; Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology; Child; Developmental Disabilities - blood; Developmental Disabilities - drug therapy; Developmental Disabilities - etiology; ghrelin; Ghrelin - blood; growth; Humans; leptin; Leptin - blood; Male; methylphenidate; Methylphenidate - pharmacology; nesfatin-1; Prospective Studies
• ISSN: 0334-018X; 2191-0251
• DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2015-0171

The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of leptin, ghrelin, and nesfatin-1 to elucidate the causes of poor appetite and growth retardation in patients receiving methylphenidate therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The study was performed on 89 male subjects; 48 patients and 41 healthy controls, aged 7–14 years. Following treatment, patients’ leptin levels increased and ghrelin levels decreased while no significant change was found in nesfatin-1 levels. Of the 48 patients, 34 developed lack of appetite. In patients who developed lack of appetite, body weight SDS, body mass index (BMI), and BMI SDS were statistically significantly reduced; moreover, height SDS was reduced, though not to a statistically significant extent. This study attempted to elucidate the mechanisms that mediate the association between methylphenidate and appetite and growth, for which no studies have yet to be published.