Increased plasma visfatin concentrations in morbidly obese subjects are reduced after gastric banding.
BACKGROUND
The insulin-mimetic adipocytokine visfatin has been linked to obesity. The influence of weight loss on plasma visfatin concentrations in obese subjects is unknown yet.


OBJECTIVE
In this study we investigated whether plasma visfatin concentrations are altered by weight loss in patients with obesity.


METHODS
In a prospective study, fasting plasma visfatin, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations were measured before and 6 months after gastric banding in 31 morbidly obese patients aged 40 +/- 11 yr with a body mass index (BMI) of 46 +/- 5 kg/m(2). Fourteen healthy subjects aged 29 +/- 5 yr with a BMI less than 25 kg/m(2) served as controls.


RESULTS
Visfatin plasma concentrations were markedly elevated in obese subjects (0.037 +/- 0.008 microg/ml), compared with controls (0.001 +/- 0.000 microg/ml, P < 0.001). Gastric banding reduced BMI to 40 +/- 5 kg/m(2), visfatin to 19.2 +/- 10.9 ng/ml, and leptin from 39.0 +/- 12.4 to 29.7 +/- 10.0 ng/ml and increased adiponectin from 0.015 +/- 0.007 to 0.017 +/- 0.007 microg/ml (all P < 0.05) after 6 months. Insulin sensitivity as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index was unchanged from 5.8 +/- 3.1 to 4.6 +/- 1.9 (P = 0.13), but individual changes of insulin resistance and visfatin were significantly associated (P < 0.05, r = -0.43).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated plasma visfatin concentrations in morbidly obese subjects are reduced after weight loss. This may be related to changes in insulin resistance over time.
Haider
Dominik G
DG
Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, Allgemeines Krankenhaus Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Schindler
Karin
K
Schaller
Georg
G
Prager
Gerhard
G
Wolzt
Michael
M
Ludvik
Bernhard
B
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
D052242:Adiponectin; D016207:Cytokines; D020738:Leptin; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human