IntroductionGhrelin, leptin and insulin are involved in neurohormonal regulation of energetic homeostasis.AimWe investigated the correlation between nutritional status and plasma levels of leptin, ghrelin and insulin in lean, obese and anorexic subjects.Material and methodsNineteen obese and 18 anorexic adults were enrolled in the study. Seventeen adults with normal body mass index (BMI) served as controls. Blood samples were taken twice: before breakfast and 2 h after breakfast. Fasting and postprandial ghrelin, leptin and insulin were examined. The following correlations were estimated: between BMI and basal level of tested hormones, between insulin and ghrelin, and between insulin and leptin. The threshold level of significance was p ≤ 0.05 for all calculations.ResultsBasal insulin level was lowest in anorexic patients and greatest in obese subjects. Fasting plasma ghrelin was lower in obesity and higher in anorexia as compared with the controls. Comparing with controls, fasting leptin levels were higher in obese and lower in anorexic subjects. There was positive correlation between BMI and basal leptin level in obesity. A significant postprandial increase was noted for insulin in all studied groups. Increased leptin and decreased ghrelin levels were detected 2 h after a meal in the control group. In obese patients, postprandial leptin was lower than before food intake, and fasting leptin showed positive correlation with basal insulin level.ConclusionsBasal plasma ghrelin, leptin and insulin levels differ according to nutritional status. Impaired ghrelin and leptin secretion and insulin sensitivity may be involved in the pathogenesis of eating disorders.

We determined whether cold water swimming for six consecutive months results in adaptive changes in body composition and insulin sensitivity. Thirty healthy subjects aged 50.2 ± 9.4 years were exposed to cold water at least twice a week. Body composition was determined and serum glucose and insulin served to calculate beta-cell function, insulin sensitivity, and resistance using HOMA2. Compared with control subjects, swimmers were overweight, and had greater percent body fat and beta cell function. Women had lower values of BMI, fat free mass, muscle mass, visceral adipose tissue level, and greater percent body fat than men. Increased insulin sensitivity and decreased insulin secretion and resistance from beginning to middle of swim season was observed in females and in lean subjects. Findings suggest that men and women differ in regard to body composition and response to repeated cold exposure. Cold water swimming may beneficially modulate insulin sensitivity in cold acclimated lean swimmers.

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Background: Antihypertensive drugs affect mineral metabolism, inflammation, and the oxidative state. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of antihypertensive monopharmacotherapy with diuretics, β-blockers, calcium antagonists (Ca-antagonists), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I), and angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) on zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) status, parameters of oxidative and inflammatory states, and glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with newly diagnosed primary arterial hypertension (AH). Methods: Ninety-eight hypertensive subjects received diuretics, β-blockers, Ca-antagonists, ACE-I, or ARB for three months. Zn, Fe, and Cu concentrations were determined in blood, urine, and hair. Results: A decrease in zinc serum and erythrocyte concentration and an increase in zinc urine concentration were registered after diuretic administration. Ca-antagonists led to a decrease in erythrocyte zinc concentration. A decrease in serum zinc concentration was observed after ACE-I. A decrease in triglyceride serum concentration was noted after ACE-I therapy, and a decrease in tumor necrosis factor-α serum concentration was seen following administration of Ca-antagonists. Hypotensive drugs led to decreases in catalase and superoxide dismutase serum concentrations. Conclusions: Three-months of monotherapy with diuretics, Ca-antagonists, or ACE-I impairs zinc status in patients with newly diagnosed primary AH. Antihypertensive monopharmacotherapy and zinc metabolism alterations affect lipid metabolism, the oxidative state, and the inflammatory state.