title: Influences of levodopa on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle metabolism in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The substantial weight loss in Parkinson's patients may be related to direct influences of levodopa treatment on fat mobilization/oxidation. We assessed systemic and local metabolic responses to levodopa/benserazide in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 10 Parkinson's disease patients and examined adipose tissue and skeletal muscle metabolism directly with microdialysis. We monitored dialysate concentrations of ethanol, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol to assess tissue blood flow and metabolism before and after levodopa/benserazide intake. We also conducted in vitro studies on adipocytes from healthy women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levodopa/benserazide increased serum levodopa, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and norepinephrine (P < 0.01). Serum adipose tissue and skeletal muscle glycerol did not change or decreased. Adipose tissue glycerol was inversely correlated with serum levodopa concentrations (P < 0.05). In isolated adipocytes, levodopa attenuated isoproterenol-induced glycerol release (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levodopa/benserazide elicits pronounced metabolic changes in both adipose tissue and skeletal muscle with a switch from lipid to carbohydrate metabolism. In adipose tissue, levodopa/benserazide failed to activate lipolysis. Therefore, we suggest that levodopa/benserazide does not induce fat wasting through direct and acute influences on adipose tissue metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Cooperation with Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Charité Campus Buch, and HELIOS Klinikum, Berlin, Germany. Frauke.Adams@charite.de
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boschmann
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lobsien
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kupsch
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipp
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Marie Charlotte
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leisse
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janke
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spranger
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jordan
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001545:Benserazide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007980:Levodopa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide; D007545:Isoproterenol; D005990:Glycerol