Hypoprolactinemia in obese children: a bridge between inflammation and metabolic-endocrine dysfunction

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide and it is responsible for an increased morbidity and mortality. The main factor contributing to excessive weight gain in children is the impaired balance between energy intake and expenditure. It was provided that also prolactin (PRL), best known for its actions on the mammary gland, played a pivotal role in energy balance, acting on adipogenesis, lipolysis, and release of adipokines such as leptin, adiponectin, and IL-6. Adipocytes, regulated by insulin, represent the major peripheral source of PRL which play a pivotal role in energy balance, acting on adipogenesis and lipolysis. Furthermore, glycosylated prolactin (g-prl) is considered as the major post-translational modification of PRL, showing reduced lactotropic and mitogenic activities.