Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of leptin in the etiopathogenesis of anorexia nervosa and bulimia

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived signal factor (167 amino acid protein) encoded by the ob gene in chromosome 7q31 that regulates eating behaviour via central neuroendocrine mechanisms. It has been shown that serum leptin levels correlate with weight and percentage body fat in normal and obese individuals, but the exact correlation between leptin and body weight in anorexic and bulimic patients has not yet been clarified. We investigated leptin levels in the serum of 58 female subjects aged 15-36 years: 10 with bulimia nervosa (BN); 12 with anorexia nervosa (AN); 12 overweight controls (not BN); 12 weight-reduced controls (not AN); and 12 normal weight controls. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible correlations between leptin levels and the body mass index (BMI) in all five groups. Our results showed that the serum leptin levels of the bulimic patients were similar to those of the healthy controls, with a positive correlation between leptin and BMI. Although bulimic patients have very bad nutritional behaviour, their leptin levels do not appear altered. Serum leptin was significantly (p<0.001) reduced in the anorexic patients because of the dramatic decrease in adipose mass caused by the nutritional defect, as: is further supported by the significantly (p<0.001) low level of transferrinemia. Our data suggest that, although significantly reduced, serum leptin levels in fasting anorexic patients are non-linearly related to body weight (BMI).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Becker A.E., Grinspoon S.K., Klibanski A, Herzog D.B.: Eating disorders. N. Engl. J. Med., 340, 1092–1098, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Eiro M., Katoh T. et al.: Use of a proton-pump inhibitor for metabolic disturbances associated with anorexia nervosa. N. Engl. J. Med., 346, 140, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhang Y., Proenca R., et al.: Positional cloning of the mouse obese gene and its human homologue. Nature, 372, 425–432, 1994.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Campfield L.A., Smith F.J. et al.: Recombinant mouse OB protein; evidence for a peripheral signal linking adiposity and central neural networks. Science, 269, 546–549, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Weigle D.S., Bukowski T.R., Foster D.C., et al.: Recombinant ob protein reduces feeding and body weight in the OB/OB mouse. J. Clin. Invest., 96, 2065–2070, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Tartaglia L.A., Dembski M., Weng X., et al.: Identification and expression cloning of a leptin receptor, OB-R. Cell, 83, 1263–1271, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Shuldiner A.R., Yang R., et al.: Resistin, obesity, and insulin-resistance. The emerging role of the adipocyte as an endocrine organ. N. Engl. J. Med., 345, 1345–1346, 2001.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Musso F., Calandra C., Musso R., et al.: Evaluation of leptin protein and human thrombopoietin levels in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Hematol. J., 1 (suppl.1) abstract, 256, 76, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Musso F., Calandra C., Musso R., et al.: Relationship of human plasma leptin concentration with blood cell parameters in anorexia nervosa and bulimia patients. Hematol. J., 1 (suppl.1) abstract, 266, 76, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ghilardi N., Skoda R.C.: The leptine receptor activates janus kinase 2 and signals for proliferation in a factor-dependent cell line. Mol. Endocrinol., 11, 393–399, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Baumann H., Morella K.K., et al.: The full length leptin receptor has signalling capabilities of interleukin 6-type receptors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 8374–8378, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Stephens T.W., Basinski M., Bristow P.K., et al.: The role of neuropeptide Y in the antiobesity action of the obese gene product. Nature, 377, 530–532, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Baj Y., Zhang S., et al.: Obese gene expression alters the ability of 30A5 preadipocytes to respond to lipogenic hormones. J. Biol. Chem., 271, 13939–13942, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Cohen B., Novick D., Rubinstein M.: Modulation of insulin activities by leptin. Science, 274, 1185–1188, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gainsford T., Wilson T.A., Metcalf D., et al.: Leptin can induce proliferation, differentiation, and functional activation of hemopoietic cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 14564–14568, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Shimabukuro M., Koyama K., Chen G., et al.: Direct antidiabetic effect of leptin through triglyceride depletion of tissues. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 94, 4637–4641, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Caro J., Sinha M.K., Kolacziynski L.W., Zhang P.L., Considine R.V.: Leptin: the tale of an obesity gene. Diabetes, 45, 1455–1462, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Caro J.F., Kolacziynski J.W., Nyce M.R., et al.: Decreased cerebrospinal fluid/serum leptin ratio in obesity: a possible mechanism for leptin resistance. Lancet, 348, 159–161, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Maffei M., Halaas J., Ravussin E., et al.: Leptin levels in human and rodent: measurement of plasma leptin and OB RNA in obese and weight-reduced subjects. Nature Med., 1, 1155–1161, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Ahima R.S., Prabakaran D., Mantzoros C., et al.: Role of leptin in the neuroendocrine response to fasting. Nature, 382, 250–252, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Thompson F.E., Byers T.: Dietary assessment resources manual. J. Nutr. 124, 2245S–2317S, 1994.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Manson J.E., Stampfer M.J., Hennekens C.H., Willett W.C.: Body weight and longevity: a reassessment. JAMA 257, 353–358, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Calle E.E., et al.: Body mass index and mortality in a prospective cohort of U.S. adults. N. Engl. J. Med., 341, 1097–1104, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Report of a WHO expert committee: Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry. WHO Tech. Rep. Ser. 854, 1–452, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  25. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) Washington, DC, APA, 1994.

  26. Garner D.M.: Professional Manual Eating Disorders Inventory, II Odessa, FL. Psychological assessment resources, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Calandra C., Gulino V. Inserra L., Giuffrida A.: The use of citalopram in an integrated approach to the treatment of eating disorders: An open study. Eat. Weight Disord., 4, 207–210, 1999.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Gendall K. A., Bulik C. M., Sullivan P.F., Joyce P.R., McIntosh V.V., Carter F.A.: Body weight in bulimia nervosa. Eat. Weight Disord., 4, 157–164, 1999.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Eckert E.D., Pommeroy C. et al.: Leptin in anorexia nervosa. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 83, 791–795, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Hebebrand J., Vanderheyden J., Devos R., et al.: Plasma concentration of obese protein in anorexia nervosa. Lancet, 346, 1624–1625, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Grinspoon S., Gullick T., Askari H., et al.: Serum leptin levels in women with anorexia nervosa. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 81, 3861–3863, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Rosenbaum M., Nicolson M., Hirsch J., et al.: Effects of gender, body composition and menopause on plasma concentrations of leptin. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 81, 3424–3427, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Argente J., Barris V., et al.: Leptin plasma levels in healthy Spanish children and adolescents, children with obesity and adolescents with anorexia and bulimia nervosa. J. Pediatr., 22, 833–838, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Sorbi S., Nacmias B., et al.: 5-HT2A promoter polymorphism in anorexia nervosa. Lancet, 351, 1785–1786, 1998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Fulton S., Woodside B., Shizgal P. et al.: Modulation of brain reward circuitry by Leptin. Science, 287, 125–128, 2000.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Maffei M., Halaas J., Ravussin E., et al.: Leptin levels in human and rodent: measurement of plasma leptin and OB RNA in obese and weightreduced subjects. Nature Med., 1, 1155–1161, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Halaas J.L., Gajiwala K.S., Maffei M., et al.: Weight-reducing effects of the plasma protein encoded by the obese gene. Science, 269, 543–546, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Pelleymounter M.A., Cullen M.J., Baker M.B., et al.: Effects of the obese gene product on body weight regulation in the ob/ob mice. Science, 269, 540–543, 1995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Farooqi I.S., Jebb S.A., Langmack G., et al.: Effects of recombinant leptin therapy in a child with congenital leptin deficiency. N. Engl. J. Med., 341, 879–883, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Specialist Sciences, Psychiatric Division, University of Catania, Azienda Policlinico, Via Etnea 255, 95125, Catania, Italy

    C. Calandra & F. Musso

  2. Institute of Hematology-Hemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, University of Catania, Azienda Vittorio Emanuele, Ferrarotto and S. Bambino, Catania, Italy

    R. Musso

Authors
  1. C. Calandra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Musso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Musso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Calandra.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Calandra, C., Musso, F. & Musso, R. The role of leptin in the etiopathogenesis of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Eat Weight Disord 8, 130–137 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325002

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325002

Key words

Search

Navigation