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

Kim, So Hee; Kim, Eun Young; Park, Sang Kee

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.