INTRODUCTION Oxytocin (OXT) is a peptide hormone produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland. Its main effects are related to childbirth and lactation but recent studied showed an involvement in regulation of food intake with induction of weight loss and documented a positive association between OXT and body mass index (BMI) in overweight patients. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum OXT, body weight, anthropometric and metabolic parameters in a population of obese patients. THE MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were recruited among subjects referring to the CASCO, Dept. of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome. Have been enrolled 86 adult obese and overweight patients with mean age of 55,6 years. Exclusions criteria were: renal, hepatic, psychiatric and cardiovascular disorders except for hypertension, pregnancy and absence of informed consent. We evaluated by biochemical exams for metabolic profile, anthropometric measurements, body composition (DEXA) and serum OXT (ELISA). RESULTS Serum levels of OXT showed a positive correlation with fat mass and BMI. Circulating levels of OXT showed a positive correlation with BMI (r=0.52 p<0.001), fat mass (r=0.37 p<0.05) and insulin levels (r=0.39, p=0.05), HOMA-IR (r=0.40, p=0.05) and triglycerides (r=0.33, p<0.05). No significant correlations emerged with glucose, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The higher was the fat mass and the BMI, the higher was the OXT serum concentration (Fig.1), probably reflecting the OXT production in the fat tissue. OXT levels seems to be associated with a worst metabolic profile and these data are consistent with the literature, even if they are controversial. Our data confirm a strong relationship between OXT serum levels and markers of complicated obesity. Since there are controversial data on the topic, we can conclude that these findings substantiate the clinical relevance and significance of OXT, as surrogate screening/prognostic tools and therapeutic targets to predict/prevent metabolic alterations.
Oxytocin levels correlate with metabolic syndrome in obese patients / Tozzi, R.; Gangitano, E.; Watanabe, M.; Basciani, S.; Caputi, A.; Costantini, D.; De Giorgi, F.; Mariani, S.; Gnessi, L.; Lubrano, C.. - (2019). (Intervento presentato al convegno 40 ° Congresso Nazionale della Società Italiana di Endocrinologia (SIE) tenutosi a Rome; Italy).
Oxytocin levels correlate with metabolic syndrome in obese patients
R. Tozzi
;E. Gangitano;M. Watanabe;S. Basciani;A. Caputi;D. Costantini;S. Mariani;L. Gnessi;C. Lubrano
2019
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oxytocin (OXT) is a peptide hormone produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland. Its main effects are related to childbirth and lactation but recent studied showed an involvement in regulation of food intake with induction of weight loss and documented a positive association between OXT and body mass index (BMI) in overweight patients. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum OXT, body weight, anthropometric and metabolic parameters in a population of obese patients. THE MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were recruited among subjects referring to the CASCO, Dept. of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome. Have been enrolled 86 adult obese and overweight patients with mean age of 55,6 years. Exclusions criteria were: renal, hepatic, psychiatric and cardiovascular disorders except for hypertension, pregnancy and absence of informed consent. We evaluated by biochemical exams for metabolic profile, anthropometric measurements, body composition (DEXA) and serum OXT (ELISA). RESULTS Serum levels of OXT showed a positive correlation with fat mass and BMI. Circulating levels of OXT showed a positive correlation with BMI (r=0.52 p<0.001), fat mass (r=0.37 p<0.05) and insulin levels (r=0.39, p=0.05), HOMA-IR (r=0.40, p=0.05) and triglycerides (r=0.33, p<0.05). No significant correlations emerged with glucose, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The higher was the fat mass and the BMI, the higher was the OXT serum concentration (Fig.1), probably reflecting the OXT production in the fat tissue. OXT levels seems to be associated with a worst metabolic profile and these data are consistent with the literature, even if they are controversial. Our data confirm a strong relationship between OXT serum levels and markers of complicated obesity. Since there are controversial data on the topic, we can conclude that these findings substantiate the clinical relevance and significance of OXT, as surrogate screening/prognostic tools and therapeutic targets to predict/prevent metabolic alterations.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
