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The effect of pegylated recombinant human leptin (PEG-OB) on weight loss and inflammatory status in obese subjects

International Journal of Obesity volume 26, pages 504–509 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether weekly subcutaneous administration of 60 mg of long-acting pegylated human leptin (PEG-OB) for 8 weeks was able to influence weight loss, metabolic profile and inflammatory status of obese subjects on a mildly hypoenergetic diet (deficit: 3.2 MJ/day).

DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled single-center trial.

SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight healthy, obese subjects (16 women, 12 men; age 22–65 y; body mass index 27.7–38.7 kg/m2).

MEASUREMENTS: Bodyweight, metabolic profile (including lipids), C-reactive protein (CRP) and soluble TNF α-receptor (sTNF-R) 55 and 75 levels.

RESULTS: At the end of the study no significant differences in the delta or percentage weight loss between the placebo (n=14) and PEG-OB (n=14) groups was observed. Also the changes in metabolic profile, CRP, sTNF-R55 and R75 concentrations between the two groups after 8 weeks of treatment did not differ.

CONCLUSION: Weekly injection of 60 mg PEG-OB did not lead to additional weight loss after 8 weeks of treatment. Furthermore, PEG-OB administration did not affect the changes in metabolic profile and the inflammatory status of obese subjects.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. for kindly providing pegylated human recombinant leptin (PEG-OB). We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to Gabby Hul for her help in performing the experimental protocols. Finally, we greatly acknowledge the co-operation, patience, and contributions of all of our subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    CJ Hukshorn, MS Westerterp-Plantenga & WHM Saris

  2. Department of General Surgery, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    FMH van Dielen & WA Buurman

  3. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

    LA Campfield

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  1. CJ Hukshorn
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Correspondence to CJ Hukshorn.

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Hukshorn, C., van Dielen, F., Buurman, W. et al. The effect of pegylated recombinant human leptin (PEG-OB) on weight loss and inflammatory status in obese subjects. Int J Obes 26, 504–509 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801952

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