Leipzig/Ulm – For the first time, a Europe-wide research team led by the DZKJ sites in Ulm and Leipzig has established comprehensive reference values for the hormone leptin. The data are based on more than 12,600 children, adolescents, and adults aged 0 to 75 years, thereby closing a central diagnostic gap in metabolic medicine.
Leptin is produced in fat tissue and signals to the brain how well the body’s energy reserves are filled. Disruptions in this regulatory system contribute to the development of obesity. Until now, however, age-, sex-, and weight-specific comparison values have been lacking, meaning that laboratory results were often only of limited use.
The newly published reference values allow for a more precise assessment of leptin levels in both individuals of normal weight and those with overweight or obesity. This is particularly important for the care of children and adolescents, as it enables rare genetic causes to be detected more reliably and therapies to be initiated in a more targeted manner.
To facilitate application in clinical practice and research, the team has developed a freely accessible online calculator. This tool allows individual leptin scores to be calculated, taking into account age, sex, body weight, and pubertal status.
The work was coordinated within the framework of the German Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DZKJ) by Dr. Brandt-Heunemann (Ulm), Dr. Mandy Vogel (Leipzig), and Prof. Martin Wabitsch (Ulm). The results have been published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Further information can be found in the respective press releases of Ulm University Medical Center and Leipzig University in German language.
