Evaluation of Appetite-Regulating Hormones ın Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 51, pages632–643(2021)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the patients and families who participated in this study. This study adapted from the dissertation of Dr. Çağla Çelikkol Sadıç.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by a grant from the Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit of Necmettin Erbakan University (Project No: 181518012).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey

    Çağla Çelikkol Sadıç & Ayhan Bilgiç

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey

    İbrahim Kılınç

  3. Department of Child Cardiology, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey

    Mehmet Burhan Oflaz & Tamer Baysal

  4. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Afyonkarahisar Goverment Hospital, Afyon, Turkey

    Çağla Çelikkol Sadıç

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  1. Çağla Çelikkol Sadıç
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  2. Ayhan Bilgiç
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  3. İbrahim Kılınç
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  4. Mehmet Burhan Oflaz
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  5. Tamer Baysal
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Contributions

ÇÇS, AB, İK, MBO and TB conceived of the study and participated in its design and coordination. ÇÇS and AB made the diagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorder and checked the suitability of these children for the study. AB, MBO and TB supervised the data collection. ÇÇS and AB drafted the manuscript. AB and İK performed statistical analysis of data. All author read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Çağla Çelikkol Sadıç.

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Çelikkol Sadıç, Ç., Bilgiç, A., Kılınç, İ. et al. Evaluation of Appetite-Regulating Hormones ın Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 632–643 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04579-0

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Keywords

  • Autism
  • Leptin
  • Ghrelin
  • Neuropeptide Y
  • Nesfatin-1
  • Early childhood