J Korean Soc Pediatr Endocrinol.  2005 Dec;10(2):169-175.

Effect of Massage Therapy on Growth of Preterm Infants: Relationship with Ghrelin, Leptin and Bone Specific Alkaline Phosphatase Levels

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea. sskey@chosun.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
Numerous studies have reported that premature birth is associated with neurodevelopmental impairment and that minimal handling is recommended. Limited physical activity of premature infants increases the risk of developing bone demineralization and osteopenia. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between anthropometric parameters and growth in massage therapy (MT) groups and control group, the relationship between ghrelin, leptin and growth, and its association with B-ALP with anthropometric parameters.
METHODS
The study comprised sixteen healthy, preterm infants below 36 weeks of gestational age assigned to two groups - one (n=8) received massage therapy and the other (n=8) did not receive. Blood samples of level of ghrelin, leptin, B-ALP were taken at the onset of MT and 1 week and 2 weeks after MT.
RESULTS
There was no difference in gestational age, sex, birth weight, height, head circumference, skinfold thickness between two groups at birth. Despite a similar nutrient intake, gains in body weight and head circumference, subscapular skinfold thickness, and triceps skinfold thickness were greater in MT groups. There was no difference of height in two groups. There was no difference of ghrelin, leptin in two groups at the onset of MT, 1 week and 2 weeks after MT. The concentration of B-ALP showed positive correlation with age. but it was not statistically significant. Massage therapy led to a significant increase in ghrelin, not leptin, B-ALP. There was positive correlation between the concentration of ghrelin and weight gain.
CONCLUSION
MT in preterm infants increases growth and weight gain is correlated positively with ghrelin levels.

Keyword

Preterm infants; Massage; Growth; Ghrelin; Leptin; Bone specific alkaline phosphatase

MeSH Terms

Alkaline Phosphatase*
Birth Weight
Body Weight
Bone Diseases, Metabolic
Gestational Age
Ghrelin*
Head
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature*
Leptin*
Massage*
Motor Activity
Parturition
Premature Birth
Skinfold Thickness
Weight Gain
Alkaline Phosphatase
Ghrelin
Leptin
Full Text Links
  • JKSPE
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr