BACKGROUNDObesity has an adverse effect on iron status. Hepcidin-mediated inhibition of iron absorption in the duodenum is a potential mechanism. Iron-deficient obese patients have diminished response to oral iron therapy. This study was designed to assess whether acupuncture could promote the efficacy of oral iron supplementation for the treatment of obesity-related iron deficiency (ID).

METHODSSixty ID or ID anemia (IDA) patients with obesity were screened at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and were randomly allocated to receive either oral iron replacement allied with acupuncture weight loss treatment (acupuncture group, n = 30) or oral iron combined with sham-acupuncture treatment (control group, n = 30). Anthropometric parameters were measured and blood samples were tested pre- and post-treatment. Differences in the treatment outcomes of ID/IDA were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment, there was a significant decrease in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist/hip circumference ratio of patients in the acupuncture group, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Oral iron supplementation brought more obvious improvements of iron status indicators including absolute increases in serum iron (11.08 ± 2.19 μmol/L vs. 4.43 ± 0.47 μmol/L), transferrin saturation (11.26 ± 1.65% vs. 1.01 ± 0.23%), and hemoglobin (31.47 ± 1.19 g/L vs. 21.00 ± 2.69 g/L) in the acupuncture group than control group (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, serum leptin (2.26 ± 0.45 ng/ml vs. 8.13 ± 0.55 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and hepcidin (3.52 ± 1.23 ng/ml vs. 6.77 ± 0.84 ng/ml, P < 0.05) concentrations declined significantly in the acupuncture group than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture-based weight loss can enhance the therapeutic effects of iron replacement therapy for obesity-related ID/IDA through improving intestinal iron absorption, probably by downregulating the systemic leptin-hepcidin levels.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Hepcidins ; blood ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; physiology ; Iron ; deficiency ; metabolism ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; blood ; metabolism ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEConditioned taste preference (CTP) is a taste learning reflex by which an animal learns to prefer a substance which tastes not well and has been studied with much interest in recent years. However, the neural substrates of CTP are less known. This study aimed to determine the possible neural path- ways of CTP and whether serum leptin level and the leptin receptor (OB-Rb) in the hind brain are involved following CTP formation.

METHODSWe established CTP of quinine in rats with a 2-bottle preference test. The serum leptin concentrations were detected, the expression of c-fos in the rat brain was tested to determine the nuclei in relation with establishment of CTR Finally, the OB-Rb mRNA expression was examined by RT-qPCR assay in parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) of the hind brain.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the level of serum leptin was higher in the CTP group (4.58 ± 0.52 vs 1.67 ± 0.25 µg/L, P < 0.01); increased c-fos positive cells were found in the anterior hypothalamus (AH, 221.75 ± 4.96 vs. 178.50 ± 6.63 cells/mm², P < 0.05), the basal lateral amygdala (BLA, 70.75 ± 6.17 vs 56.50 ± 3.62 cells/ mm², P < 0.05) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST, 41.25 ± 1.32 vs 32.50 ± 1.02 cells/mm², P < 0.05). But in ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH, 20.75 ± 2.73 vs 38.5 ± 1.54 per 1 mm², P < 005), PBN (21.50 ± 2.24 vs 36.25 ± 1.49 cells/mm², P < 0.05) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA, 22.25 ± 1.53 vs 35.50 ± 2.11 cells/mm², P < 0.05), the number of c-fos positive cells was decreased in the CTP group. In addition, we found OB-Rb mRNA expression in PBN of CTP group rats was higher than that of control group (0.95 ± 0.055 vs 0.57 ± 0.034, P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference of OB-Rb mRNA expression in NST between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONNuclei AH, BLA, NST, VMH, PBN and CeA participate in the formation of CTP. Leptin and its receptor in PBN may be involved in the formation and maintenance of CTP.

Animals ; Conditioning (Psychology) ; Leptin ; blood ; Rats ; Receptors, Leptin ; physiology ; Rhombencephalon ; physiology ; Taste ; physiology

This study aimed to determine whether taurine supplementation improves metabolic disturbances and diabetic complications in an animal model for type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether taurine has therapeutic effects on glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and diabetic complications in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats with long-term duration of diabetes. Fourteen 50-week-old OLETF rats with chronic diabetes were fed a diet supplemented with taurine (2%) or a non-supplemented control diet for 12 weeks. Taurine reduced blood glucose levels over 12 weeks, and improved OGTT outcomes at 6 weeks after taurine supplementation, in OLETF rats. Taurine significantly reduced insulin resistance but did not improve beta-cell function or islet mass. After 12 weeks, taurine significantly decreased serum levels of lipids such as triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Taurine significantly reduced serum leptin, but not adiponectin levels. However, taurine had no therapeutic effect on damaged tissues. Taurine ameliorated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, at least in part, by improving insulin sensitivity and leptin modulation in OLETF rats with long-term diabetes. Additional study is needed to investigate whether taurine has the same beneficial effects in human diabetic patients.
Adipokines/blood ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy ; Dietary Supplements ; Dyslipidemias/blood/*drug therapy ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Hyperglycemia/blood/*drug therapy ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Hypolipidemic Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology ; Insulin/physiology/secretion ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/physiology/secretion ; Leptin/*blood ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Organ Specificity ; Rats ; Rats, Long-Evans ; Taurine/administration & dosage/*pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe serum and callus leptin expression within the setting of fracture and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODSA total of 64 male SD rats were randomized equally into 4 groups: nonoperated group, TBI group, fracture group, and fracture+TBI group. Rats were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after fracture+TBI. Serum leptin was detected using radioimmunoassay, and callus formation was measured radiologically. Callus leptin was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSSerum leptin levels in the fracture group, TBI group and combined fracture+TBI group were all significantly increased compared with control group at the 2 week time-point (P less than 0.05). Serum leptin in the combined fracture +TBI group was significantly higher than that in the fracture and TBI groups at 4 and 8 weeks after injury (P less than 0.05). The percentage of leptin-positive cells in the fracture+TBI callus and callus volume were significantly higher than those in the fracture-only group (P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSWe demonstrated elevated leptin expression within healing bone especially in the first 8 weeks in a rat model of fracture and TBI. A close association exists between leptin levels and the degree of callus formation in fractures.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Femoral Fractures ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Fracture Healing ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leptin ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDHyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp is the gold standard to evaluate the insulin sensitivity, but it is too complicated and expensive to use in clinic. We tried to find an alternative indicator to reflect insulin sensitivity. To evaluate the association between the four adipokines, adiponectin, leptin, resistin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) with insulin sensitivity, we used a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to test insulin sensitivity in Chinese patients with obesity and type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus versus controls.

METHODSIn this parallel control study, we tested insulin sensitivity using a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp in different groups, then examined levels of adiponectin, leptin, resistin and TNF-alpha in serum, and the relationship between the different adipokines and glucose disposal rate (M value), as well as insulin sensitivity index (M value/insulin, M/I), which are the "gold standard" indices of insulin sensitivity.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in mean leptin values in the four adipokines from the four different groups (P < 0.001; comparison of the variation between different groups was analyzed by variance analysis). Compared to controls (using multiple comparison two-way Dunnett t test), only the leptin level showed significant differences in the four adipokines from the four different groups at the same time (P < 0.001). The association analysis between the different adipokines and M or M/I values also showed that only leptin negatively correlated with M (r = -0.64, P < 0.001) or M/I values (r = -0.56, P < 0.001); there was no relationship between the other three adipokines and M or M/I values.

CONCLUSIONOnly leptin was associated with M or M/I values. Therefore, leptin might be one of the predictive factors of the degree of insulin resistance and risk of the accompanying disease.

Adipokines ; blood ; Adiponectin ; blood ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; Glucose Clamp Technique ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Leptin ; blood ; Obesity ; blood ; Resistin ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

INTRODUCTIONThere are very few data about relations between leptin and bone mineral density (BMD) in regular haemodialysed patients. We aimed to examine the relationship of serum leptin levels with BMD values in dialysed patients. We also assessed whether leptin is a significant predictor of BMD in haemodialysed patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODSLeptin levels were studied using commercially available kits and BMD values were calculated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at femoral neck and distal radius in 74 (30 men and 44 women ) haemodialysis patients.

RESULTSBMD values at the femoral neck and distal radius did not differ significantly between the 2 genders. BMD at the distal radius correlated positively with bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) (r = 0.503, P = 0.005) in male patients and correlated positively with phosphorus (r = 0.343, P = 0.02) in female patients. The time ondialysis treatment was longer in men (59 +/- 48 vs 44 +/- 41) but the difference was not statistically significant. Leptin levels were negatively correlated with BMD at the distal radius (r = -0.250 and P = 0.03) in all patients. Serum leptin levels were also correlated with body mass index (BMI) in all the patients (r = 0.749 and P = 0.001) and in both genders (r = 0.653 and P = 0.001 in women, r = 0.704 and P = 0.001 in men). In multivariate regression analysis, it was found that leptin level was not an independent determinant of BMD at all skeleton sites measured.

CONCLUSIONSThere was significant difference between the 2 genders with reference to leptin levels, BMI, phosphorus and creatinine. Serum leptin levels are not significant predictors of BMD in the current study.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Density ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate plasma leptin concentrations in adolescent female dancers and to determine whether leptin has some effects on their bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers.

METHODSSixty dancers aged 15-17 years and 77 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition were detected by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum leptin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Two bone turnover markers, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRACP), were determined by ELISA.

RESULTSThe dancers had a lower fat mass and a lower leptin level than the controls, while they had a relatively higher BMD of the total body and legs after adjustment for BMI and age. The levels of bone resorption and formation of markers were higher in the dancers than in the controls. Leptin was positively correlated with BMI, body weight, fat mass, and percentage of body fat. In dancers, Leptin was positively correlated with the BMD of the total body and the left leg. However, after adjustment for BMI, no correlation of serum leptin concentrations with BMD values was found in either dancers or controls. Nor correlation was found between leptin and bone turnover markers after adjustment for BMI.

CONCLUSIONThe leptin profile is different between the controls and the dancers with a lower BMI and a lower fat mass. Circulating plasma leptin level depends on BMI and is not a direct determinant of BMD in Chinese adolescent dancers.

Adolescent ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Bone Density ; physiology ; Dancing ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To examine the serum visfatin, adiponectin and leptin levels in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and to explore the basis of the pathogenesis of PCOS. METHODS: A PCOS group (n=73) and a healthy control group (n=75) were included in the study, which were matched in age and body mass index (BMI). Serum visfatin, adiponectin, leptin, sex hormone levels, and metabolic parameters were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA). RESULTS Serum levels of fasting insulin(Fins), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (PRL) in the PCOS group were significantly higher than those in the healthy group(all P<0.05),and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level was significantly decreased in the PCOS group. The visfatin and leptin levels in the PCOS group increased significantly than those in the healthy group [PCOS group: (95.30+/-31.90) and (11.10+/-3.87) microg/L; healthy group: (73.20+/-20.30) and (7.21+/-2.47) microg/L,P<0.001]. The adiponectin level was significantly lower than that in the healthy group [PCOS group: (4.21+/-1.17) mg/L; healthy group:( 6.39+/-1.53) mg/L,P<0.001]. Pearson correlation analysis showed that visfatin level was negatively related to adiponectin levels (r=-0.452 and -0.378, P<0.01), but positively related to leptin and HOMA-IR levels in both the PCOS group and the healthy group (r=0.379-0.556, all P<0.01). The correlation remained between the visfatin and HOMA-IR levels in the PCOS group after correcting the influence of BMI. CONCLUSION Patients with PCOS have high visfatin and leptin levels but low adiponectin levels. Visfatin levels are positively related to insulin resistance.
Adiponectin ; blood ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Leptin ; blood ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase ; blood ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum adipocytokines and leptin level are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Serum adiponectin and leptin level were measured by ELISA in 336 postmenopausal women. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the whole body, lumbar spine, hip, and forearm. Body compositions including lean tissue mass and body fat mass were measured by DXA, and their relationship was analyzed. RESULTS: Serum adiponectin levels were negatively related to BMD at the whole body, the lumbar spine, the hip, and the forearm (r = -0.181, r = -0.208, r = -0.228, r = -0.203, and P < 0.05, respectively). After adjustment for age and fat mass, the correlation with BMD still remained (r = -0.131, r = -0.140, r = -0.159, r = -0.172, and P<0.05, respectively). Serum leptin levels were positively related to BMD was at the hip and the forearm (r = 0.162, r = 0.210, and P < 0.05, respectively). After adjustment for age and fat mass, the correlation with BMD at the forearm remained (r = 0.157, P<0.05), but the correlation with BMD at the hip disappeared. In the multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, year since menopause, lean mass, adiponectin, and estradiol were independent predictors of BMD at the body, the hip and the forearm; year since menopause, lean mass, body mass index, adiponectin, and extradiol were independent predictors of BMD at the lumbar spine. CONCLUSION Adiponectin is the independent predictor of BMD.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adiponectin ; blood ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density ; physiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause ; blood ; metabolism

AIMTo explore the effect of acute intra-peritoneal infection on leptin expression levels in peripheral blood and vital organs, and find out the role leptin plays in acute inflammation.

METHODSA cecal ligation and perforation model of rats was established, setting groups of sham-operation, intralipid injection, injury, estradiol injection and insulin injection. A rat leptin radioimmunoassay was used to check serum leptin concentrations at 12 h after the injury, and RT-PCR was also used to detect leptin mRNA expressions in adipose tissue, lung and liver.

RESULTSCompared with serum leptin level of sham-operation group after injury, that of all the other four groups showed no significant difference, while the level of intralipid group was significantly higher than that of injury group and estradiol group. Compared with leptin mRNA expression level of sham-operation group after injury, that of the other four groups had different changes. Leptin mRNA expression of intralipid group was significantly increased in adipose tissue but decreased in lung and liver.

CONCLUSIONLeptin expression levels may be affected by the changes of energy metabolism and neuroendocrine function after injury, which suggests a possible protective role for leptin in the recovery of body homeostasis.

Animals ; Female ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Intestinal Perforation ; Leptin ; blood ; physiology ; Ligation ; Male ; Peritonitis ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley