Leptin: a modulator of alcohol craving?
BACKGROUND
Leptin has been shown to regulate food intake and energy expenditure. Because leptin acts via regulation of appetite, we studied the hypothesis that suggests leptin modulates craving for alcohol as well.


METHODS
We studied leptin plasma concentrations (RIA) both in alcoholic subjects during inpatient detoxification (day 1: n = 78, day 14: n = 60) and in healthy control subjects (n = 30). To rule out interference with the activation of the HPA axis during alcohol withdrawal, we also evaluated cortisol plasma levels (RIA).


RESULTS
We found plasma leptin and cortisol elevated at onset of withdrawal, decreasing significantly up to day 14. Leptin (and the body-mass corrected ratio leptin/BMI) was highly correlated with self-rated craving. No correlations of craving with cortisol and BMI were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that leptin may modulate withdrawal-induced craving in alcoholic subjects.
Kiefer
F
F
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Jahn
H
H
Jaschinski
M
M
Holzbach
R
R
Wolf
K
K
Naber
D
D
Wiedemann
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015992:Body Mass Index; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology
D020738:Leptin; D000431:Ethanol; D006854:Hydrocortisone