Assessment of biochemical changes among Egyptian women with increased body weight

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a condition that results from chronic disruption of energy balance where energy intake continuously exceeds energy expenditure and accumulation of body fat results Objective: We evaluated the relationships between ghrelin and leptin with the metabolic state of normal weight, overweight, and obese Egyptian women. Methods: We studied 82 subjects with ages from 43 to 65. They were free of endocrine-related disease and divided into three groups according to their body mass index (BMI), group 1 with BMI less than 25 kg/m2, group 2 with BMI between 25 to 30 kg/m2, and group 3 with BMI more than 30 kg/m2. Ghrelin and leptin were determined by ELISA technique. Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment. Lipid profile was determined in all groups. Results: Fasting plasma levels of ghrelin were lower in overweight and obese groups compared to normal weight control group. There was statistically significant negative correlation of ghrelin levels with leptin, BMI and HOMA. Results showed that higher concentrations of fasting leptin were found in overweight and obese groups compared with the normal weight control group. There was statistically significant positive correlation between leptin and other biochemical parameters, insulin, BMI, and HOMA. Conclusion: Ghrelin and leptin may be associated with obesity. These markers can be of value when assessing management. Keywords: Ghrelin, HOMA, leptin, obesity