Leptin concentration indexed to fat mass is increased in untreated anorexia nervosa (AN) patients

Summary Context Data regarding serum adipocytokine and ghrelin concentrations in different stages of anorexia nervosa (AN) is conflicting. Objective Our aim is to determine serum concentrations of adiponectin (ApN), leptin and ghrelin in different stages of AN and to evaluate their relationships with study parameters. Design setting and participants Study group was composed of four subgroups: Group 1: patients with a recent diagnosis of AN (n = 19); group 2: weight recovered (10% increase in body weight compared with baseline) subgroup of group 1 during follow-up (n = 10); group 3: recovered patients with a previous history of AN but normal menstrual cycles and body weight currently (n = 10); group 4: control group (n = 10). Venous blood was obtained for measurements of biochemical/hormonal parameters, ApN, leptin and ghrelin. Body composition was determined by bioimpedance analysis. Main outcome measures Changes in adipocytokine and ghrelin concentrations and relationships with anthropometric/biochemical parameters. Results Leptin : fat mass (kg) ratio was significantly higher in group 1 patients compared with group 4 (4·3 ± 4·6 vs. 1·1 ± 0·5 µg/l kg, P