Plasma ghrelin was detectable in all studied infants and as early as 28 weeksgestations. The circulating ghrelin level at birth remained relatively constant throughoutthe gestation, raising the possibility that ghrelin secretion might not undergo gestationalage related variations and its regulation was probably different to other metabolichormones such as (insulin or leptin). The finding of an inverse relationship betweenghrelin and anthropometric indices only in term infants suggested that ghrelin mightadopt its active physiological rule in regulating growth and energy homeostasis at arelatively late stage of gestation (37 weeks). This phenomenon could be beneficial toterm newborns, as ghrelin may assist in stimulating appetite and maintaining anadequate blood glucose level when nutritional and energy supplies from the mother areabruptly interrupted after birth