Sexual dimorphism of leptin and adiposity in children between 0 and 10 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Biology of sex differences Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 47 - 14
• Main Authors: Ortega-Avila, Jose Guillermo, García-Muñoz, Harry, Segura Ordoñez, Alejandro, Salazar Contreras, Blanca C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 05.09.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adiposity; Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age groups; Analysis; Blood levels; Body composition; Body fat; Body mass index; Child; Child development; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Children's furniture; Cohort analysis; Data collection; Female; Gender differences; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Leptin; Male; Meta-analysis; Neonates; Normal-weight; Obesity; Sex; Sex Characteristics; Sexual dimorphism; Statistical analysis; Systematic review; Normal-weight; Children; Adiposity; Leptin; Sex
• ISSN: 2042-6410; 2042-6410
• DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00454-y

Differences in adolescents and adults by sex in blood levels of leptin and adiposity have been described; however, it is not yet clear if these differences arise from the prepubertal stage in subjects with a normal-weight. Therefore, we examine whether there are differences by sex in levels of blood leptin and adiposity in children with a normal-weight between 0 and 10 years old. Search strategy: eligible studies were obtained from three electronic databases (Ovid, Embase and LILACS) and contact with experts. healthy children up to 10 years of age with normal-weight according to age. data were extracted by four independent reviewers using a predesigned data collection form. For the analysis, we stratified according to age groups (newborns, 0.25-0.5 years, 3-5.9 years, 6-7.9 years, 8-10 years). The statistical analysis was performed in the R program. Of the initially identified 13,712 records, 21 were selected in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The sex was associated with the overall effect on blood leptin (pooled MD = 1.72 ng/mL, 95% CI: 1.25-2.19) and body fat percentage (pooled MD = 3.43%, 95% CI: 2.53-4.33), being both higher in girls. This finding was consistent in the majority of age groups. The results of our meta-analyses support the sexual dimorphism in circulating blood leptin and body fat percentage between girls and boys with normal-weight from prepuberty.