Increase in serum resistin during weight loss in overweight subjects is related to lipid metabolism.
OBJECTIVE
Human resistin has been stated to influence preadipocyte cell numbers and to stimulate adipocyte triglyceride lipolysis in vivo and in vitro. However, its role in human obesity remains unclear.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study for comparisons of lean and obese subjects, and subsequent longitudinal 4-month weight loss intervention study in obese subjects.


METHODS
Healthy subjects, lean (n=20, BMI<25) and overweight (n=43, BMI>or=25).


METHODS
Serum resistin, body weight, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, as well as markers of insulin resistance and lipid metabolism at baseline and after 4 months of intervention.


RESULTS
Serum resistin was positively correlated to HOMA-IR (partial r=0.288; P=0.055), serum fructosamines (partial r=0.280; P=0.062), serum NEFA (partial r=0.276; P=0.066) and negatively to age (partial r=-0.349; P=0.019) and serum apolipoprotein A-1 (partial r=-0.363; P=0.014). During the intervention, serum resistin increased significantly (P<0.001). The increase was inversely related to changes in waist-to-hip ratio (P=0.025) and positively to serum apolipoprotein B (P=0.011). In males only, the increase in resistin during weight loss was predicted by total serum cholesterol at baseline (r=0.703, P=0.007). No relation was observed between changes in resistin and changes in HOMA-IR.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study indicates an association between serum resistin and markers of abdominal fat distribution as well as the regulation of lipid metabolism. However, human resistin is unlikely to play an independent role in the regulation of glucose metabolism.
Koebnick
C
C
Dietary Fiber and the Metabolic Syndrome Research Group, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany. koebnick@mail.dife.de
Wagner
K
K
Garcia
A L
AL
Gruendel
S
S
Lahmann
P H
PH
Weickert
M O
MO
Möhlig
M
M
Harsch
I A
IA
Einig
C
C
Speth
M
M
Katz
N
N
Trippo
U
U
Zunft
H J F
HJ
D000328:Adult; D001824:Body Constitution; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy; D050177:Overweight; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D015431:Weight Loss
D007328:Insulin; C499624:RETN protein, human; D052243:Resistin; D002784:Cholesterol