Correlations between orexigene and anorexigene hormones in metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Summary. Metabolic syndrome plays a leading role in the development of cardiovascular and endocrine diseases. To date, there are discussions about the role of certain hormones in the development and course of this disease. After all, understanding the pathophysiological features will allow to adequately correct the manifestations of metabolic syndrome at different stages.

The aim of the study – to investigate the correlation between the levels of ghrelin, leptin, insulin and the main metabolic parameters in obese patients of varying degrees.

Materials and Methods. There were examined 44 patients (59.10 % – women and 40.90 % – men) aged 31–79 with a body mass index ˃30 kg/m² (main group) and 12 patients (66.67 % – women and 33.34 % – men) aged 25–67, with a body mass index ˂25 kg/m², which made up the control group. Levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glycemia, as well as total cholesterol, low and high density lipoproteins, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and plasma creatinine were measured by Hitachi automatic analyzer. Serum leptin and ghrelin levels were determined using Leptin ELISA (LDN Labor Diagnostika Nord GmbH & Co.KG, Germany) and Human Ghrelin ELISA Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) on a Multiskan FC analyzer. Statistical processing of data was performed using variation and correlation analysis.

Results. Correlation analysis in groups of patients with varying degrees of obesity revealed a relationship between BMI and the level of leptin (r = + 0.99), ghrelin (r = - 0.86), HbA1c (r = +0.60), cholesterol (r = +0.99), LDL (r = +0.98), HDL (r = -0.99), atherogenic factor (r = +0.96), insulin (r = +1.00), glycemia r = +0.84). A comparison of leptin and ghrelin concentrations at different degrees of obesity showed strong feedback (r = -0.92), when serum ghrelin levels decreased with increasing BMI and leptin concentration. At the same time, after analyzing the relationship between leptin and insulin, a strong direct relationship was found (r = +0.99), which increased the concentration of both indicators with increasing BMI.

Conclusions. The analysis confirmed the presence of an imbalance of orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones in obese patients, with a progressive increase in leptin, insulin and a decrease in ghrelin levels with increasing obesity, as evidenced by the corresponding correlations.