Leptin and Endocrine Parameters in Girls with Mental Anorexia

Overview

Introduction:
Leptin is an important link in the regulation of body mass. An increase in fatty tissue isaccompanied by increased formation of leptin, which, under physiological conditions, decreases input of energyand increases its output. A critical decrease of body mass in mental anorexia (MA) is connected with decreasedleptinemia. Precise mechanisms controlling leptin level are not known.Aim: To characterize the relation of leptinemia to the indices of body mass as well as to other hormonalparameters in female patients with mental anorexia. Patients and methods: In 14 girls with MA at the beginning of the disease (mean age 15.47 ± 0.50 years), thoseafter a partial therapeutic improvement (mean age 15.71 ± 0.53 years) and in 15 healthy girls (mean age 14.41 ±0.52 years) the authors evaluated indices of body mass: % deviation from ideal body mass for the given age andheight, body mass index (BMI), a multiple of standard deviation for the pertinent age -⁠ and the plasma level ofleptin. In the patients with MA, samples of blood were taken for the determination of triiodotyronine, thyroxine,thyreotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate and testosterone.Results: Anthropometric parameters and leptin levels in subjects with MA were low at the beginning of thedisease and increased significantly after a partial improvement of the clinical condition, but were still laggingbehind values in the control group (body mass deficit -27.12 ± 2.10% vs. -10.57 ± 3.42%, vs. 2.77 ± 2.03%, P

Key words:
leptin, mental anorexia, BMI, body mass deficit, endocrine parameters