Acute and prolonged administration of glucocorticoids (methylprednisolone) does not affect plasma leptin concentration in humans.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of glucocorticoid administration on leptin in humans.


METHODS
A 30 min i.v. infusion of methylprednisolone (METH, 125 mg) or placebo (PLAC) followed by 4 d of oral administration of METH (40 mg/d) or PLAC. Fasting plasma glucose, free-fatty acids (FFA), insulin and leptin concentrations were measured at baseline, 210 min after the beginning of the i.v. infusion and after 4 d of oral treatment.


METHODS
Twenty healthy non-diabetic male volunteers (27 +/- 5 y, 72 +/- 9 kg, 20 +/- 7% body fat; means +/- s.d.) fed a weight maintenance diet and randomly assigned to METH (n = 10) or PLAC (n = 10) treatment.


RESULTS
At baseline, leptin was positively correlated with % body fat in the 20 subjects (r = 0.53; P < 0.02). Acute METH administration significantly increased fasting plasma glucose (P < 0.01), but had no effect on insulin, FFA or leptin concentrations as compared to PLAC. Prolonged METH administration significantly increased fasting plasma insulin P < 0.05), but had no effect on glucose, FFA or leptin concentrations as compared to PLAC.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that in relatively lean individuals, the administration of therapeutic doses of methylprednisolone does not change plasma leptin concentration.
Tataranni
P A
PA
Clinical Diabetes and Nutrition Section, NIDDK-NIH, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA.
Pratley
R
R
Maffei
M
M
Ravussin
E
E
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; D008775:Methylprednisolone