An endocrine and metabolic definition of the intermeal interval in humans: evidence for a role of leptin on the prandial pattern through fatty acid disposal.
BACKGROUND
It has been proposed that leptin provides a hormonal link between adipose stores and food intake.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the role of leptin in the prandial pattern.


METHODS
In experiment 1, a spontaneous prandial pattern was recreated in 6 young, normal-weight men who were deprived of time cues and had blood withdrawn continuously at a frequency of one tube every 5 min. Meals were consumed ad libitum and dinner was requested voluntarily. Data from a second experiment, conducted in 8 subjects, were used to confirm the changes in leptin during the intermeal interval (IMI).


RESULTS
Plasma leptin gradually rose to a peak (62 +/- 18% of the lunch concentration) during the IMI and declined before the dinner request (-21 +/- 4% of the peak concentration). This preprandial decline was confirmed in experiment 2 (-15 +/- 9%). The leptin concentration at lunch and fat-free mass were the only significant predictors of the IMI (both: r(2) = 0.91, P = 0.03). With fat intake at lunch, the leptin concentration at lunch was a positive predictor of the area under the curve of plasma fatty acids during the IMI (r(2) = 0.95, P = 0.01). Moreover, the leptin concentration at lunch was negatively correlated with energy intake in the first course of this meal (r = -0.95, P < 0.005). A similar result was found at dinner (r = -0.85, P < 0.05). Last, the change in leptin was predicted accurately by changes in glucose, triacylglycerol, and fatty acids (r(2) = 0.87, P < 10(-5)).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma leptin concentrations increase during a spontaneous IMI and decline before the onset of a meal. The results argue for a role of leptin in the prandial pattern through fatty acid peripheral disposal.
Laboratoire de Physiologie du Comportement Alimentaire, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Bobigny, France. comp-alim@smbh.univ-paris13.fr
D
D
Chapelot
R
R
Aubert
C
C
Marmonier
M
M
Chabert
J
J
Louis-Sylvestre
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012528:Satiety Response; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides