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Circulating soluble leptin receptor, leptin, and insulin resistance before and after weight loss in obese children

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 1230–1235 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the relationships between leptin, soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R), and insulin resistance in obese children before and after weight reduction.

METHODS:

We determined fasting serum leptin, sOB-R, and insulin resistance index (Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)) in 36 obese children at baseline and 1 y later and compared them to 72 lean children matched for age, gender, and pubertal stage. The changes of leptin (Δleptin) and sOB-R (ΔsOB-R) over the 1 y period were correlated to the changes of HOMA (ΔHOMA), the changes of weight status, and the changes of percentage body fat (Δ%BF) based on skinfold measurements. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for the dependent variables Δleptin and ΔsOB-R, including ΔBMI and ΔHOMA as independent variables adjusted for age, gender, and pubertal stage. Changes of leptin and sOB-R levels were analyzed in 11 obese children after they had lost weight substantially (decrease SDS-BMI>0.5) and compared to 11 obese children without substantial weight loss matched for age, gender, and pubertal stage.

RESULTS:

Obese children showed significantly (P<0.001) higher leptin and lower sOB-R levels. Δleptin correlated significantly to ΔSDS-BMI (r=0.28, P<0.05), Δ%BF (r=0.44, P<0.05), and ΔHOMA (r=0.42, P<0.01), while ΔsOB-R correlated significantly to ΔSDS-BMI (r=−0.42, P<0.01) and Δ%BF (r=−0.47, P<0.01), but not to ΔHOMA. In contrast to ΔsOB-R, Δleptin correlated significantly to ΔHOMA (P=0.02) in multiple linear regression analysis. Substantial weight loss led to a significant increase in sOB-R (P=0.02) and to a decrease in HOMA (P=0.02). In children without substantial weight loss, there were no changes in sOB-R, while HOMA (P=0.04) and leptin (P=0.02) increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONS:

The decrease of sOB-R and the increase of leptin levels in obese children normalized after weight loss. Therefore, these changes are consequences rather than the cause of overweight. In contrast to sOB-R, leptin levels are associated with insulin resistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents Datteln, University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany

    T Reinehr & W Andler

  2. University of Leipzig, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Leipzig, Germany

    J Kratzsch

  3. University of Leipzig, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Leipzig, Germany

    W Kiess

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  1. T Reinehr
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  2. J Kratzsch
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  3. W Kiess
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  4. W Andler
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Correspondence to T Reinehr.

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Reinehr, T., Kratzsch, J., Kiess, W. et al. Circulating soluble leptin receptor, leptin, and insulin resistance before and after weight loss in obese children. Int J Obes 29, 1230–1235 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803027

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