Korean J Pediatr.  2017 Apr;60(4):118-123. 10.3345/kjp.2017.60.4.118.

Effect of tuberculosis treatment on leptin levels, weight gain, and percentage body fat in Indonesian children

• Mexitalia
• Dewi YO
• Pramono A
• Anam MS

• KMID: 2377100
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2017.60.4.118

Abstract

PURPOSE
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a problem in the community. TB patients usually experience malnutrition, which is characterized by both decreased body weight (BW) and body fat percentage (BFP). Leptin, an important regulator of BW, also plays an important role in cellular immunity, which is integral to defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We analyzed the effect of an anti-TB treatment regimen on the leptin level, BW, and BFP of children with TB.
METHODS
The design of this study was a group interrupted time series. The subjects were children with probable TB according to clinical criteria based on an Indonesian scoring system adopted from the Consensus of Expert Panel. BW; BFP; energy intake; fat and protein intake; and leptin levels before, 2 months after (intensive phase), and 6 months after (continuation phase) anti-TB treatment, were measured. About 40 children, aged 5-14 years, participated in this study.
RESULTS
The BW, BFP and leptin level increased from before treatment to after completion of the intensive phase and still showed an increased during the continuation phase: BW 18.65 kg, 19.75 kg, and 20.85 kg; BFP 18.3%, 19.5%, and 20.2%; and leptin level 1.9 mg/dL, 3.07 mg/dL, and 3.4 mg/dL, respectively (P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
Leptin level, BW, and BFP increased throughout the course of anti-TB treatment, compared with pretreatment values. Further research is needed to compare the results with data for healthy children.

Keyword

Leptin; Tuberculosis treatment; Weight gain; Child

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue*
Body Weight
Child*
Consensus
Energy Intake
Humans
Immunity, Cellular
Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Leptin*
Malnutrition
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Tuberculosis*
Weight Gain*
Leptin