title: Effect of cyproheptadine on serum leptin levels.
abstract: Leptin is a 167 amino acid protein encoded by the obesity gene that is synthesized in adipose tissue and interacts with receptors in the hypothalamus linked to the regulation of appetite and metabolism. It is known to suppress appetite and increase energy expenditure. Cyproheptadine is a piperidine antihistamine that increases appetite through its antiserotonergic effect on 5-HT2 receptors in the brain. Although both leptin and cyproheptadine are effective in controlling appetite, their interaction has not been addressed in clinical studies. This study evaluated serum leptin concentrations in patients who received cyproheptadine to treat a variety of disorders. Sixteen patients aged 7 to 71 years (mean, 26.25 years) were given cyproheptadine 2 to 6 mg/day for a minimum of 7 days. Body weight was measured and blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 1 week of treatment. Serum leptin levels were determined by leptin radioimmunoassay. The mean body weight at baseline (52.59 kg) did not differ significantly from that at 1 week after treatment (52.84 kg; P > .05), but the mean leptin level after 1 week of treatment with cyproheptadine (3.14 ng/mL) was 14.2% higher than that at baseline (2.75 ng/mL; P < .05). This increase may suggest that both leptin and cyproheptadine may affect appetite via similar receptors and that cyproheptadine does not impair leptin activity through these receptors. Further study will be necessary to clarify this relationship.
authors.affiliation: Yüzüncü Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Calka
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metin
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dülger
authors.forename: Reha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erkoç
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019167:Appetite Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D019167:Appetite Stimulants; D020738:Leptin; D003533:Cyproheptadine