title: The role of leptin and cortisol in hyperactivity in patients with acute and weight-recovered anorexia nervosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In food-restricted rats, leptin as well as corticotropin releasing factor attenuate semistarvation-induced hyperactivity (SIH). Results from studies in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) showed an association between excessive physical activity (PA) and leptin. One recent report suggests a role for cortisol in PA. In this study, we assessed the relationships between PA and both, cortisol and leptin levels at the same time in patients with acute anorexia nervosa (acAN) in comparison to recovered patients (recAN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma leptin, plasma cortisol, body mass index (BMI), and expert-ratings of qualities of PA were assessed in 36 acAN patients, 27 recAN patients and 44 healthy control woman (HCW). Regression analyses were used to predict PA using BMI, leptin and cortisol levels as predictor variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leptin levels but not cortisol significantly contributed to the prediction of PA in acAN. In recAN PA was not elevated and not related to endocrine parameters but correlated positively with core eating disorder symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our work lends support to the proposed inverse association between peripheral leptin levels and excessive physical activity in AN. This relationship is specific to the state of semistarvation. The role of additional mediators remains to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, CVK, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. stefan@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burghardt
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broecker-Preuss
authors.forename: Deike
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Julia V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Merle
authors.forename: Eugenia Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Craciun
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lehmkuhl
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hebebrand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D006854:Hydrocortisone