The relationship between, weight serum ghrelin, leptin levels and atypical antipsychotics

Abstract

Objective To explore the role of ghrelin and leptin on the pathphysiology of antipsychotics induced weight gain by investigating the early changes of weight gain, serum glucose, lipids, ghrelin and leptin levels during treatment of atypical antipsychotics. Methods Seventy six schizophrenic patients and thirty healthy controls were recruited into our study. They were initiated with single olanzapine ( n = 20), risperidone ( n = 31 ) or quetiapine( n = 25 ) treatment for 6 weeks. Serum levels of ghrelin,leptin as well as weight and fasting glucose ,lipids were investigated at the baseline and at 6 weeks. Results ( 1 ) The weight from (56.64±8.76 ) kg to (60.80 ± 9.18 )kg ( t =0.944, P=0.000) ,cholesterol from (4.49 ±0.91)mmol/L to (5.34 ± 1.43)mmol/L ( t =0.697, P=0.000) ,blood triglyceride from (1.39 ± 1.21)mmol/L to (2.06 ± 1.26) mmol/L ( t=0. 378, P=0.012) andleptin from ( 3.01 ± 4.36 ) μg/L to (7.50 ± 10.84 ) μg/L ( t = 3. 894, P = 0.000 ) levels increased significantly after six weeks' antipsyehotie treatment. In addition, the weight, blood cholesterol as well as leptin levels were also increased in olanzapine, quetiatine and risperidone group ( P > 0.05 ). ( 2 ) Between the treatment subjects whose weight gain is higher than 7% and those less than 7% ,significant differences were found in serum triglyceride levels at baseline( t =2. 119, P=0. 030) as well as ghrelin level( t =2. 333, P=0.029) at 6 weeks. (3) Spearman Correlation analysis indicated that leptin was positively correlated with weight after six weeks ( r = 0. 440, P =0.008). Conclusions Weight gain and lipid metabolism disorder were considered to be an early change of treatment of atypical antipsychoties, while serum glucose level did not change significantly; the increasing of leptin levels suggested that there exists certain protecting mechanism against APS associated-weight gain and lipid metabolism disorder, but it may be decompensated. Olanzapine might directly accelerate the secretion of ghrelin, and therefore caused increasing appetite and weight gain more. Key words: Atypical antipsychotics; Ghrelin; Leptin; Body weight; Glucose and lipid metabolism disorder