Weight gain and ghrelin level after olanzapine monotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The present study aimed to explore the association between weight gain and ghrelin among schizophrenic patients under olanzapine treatment. The relationships among weight gain and adiponectin, fasting glucose, and lipid profile were also investigated.


METHODS
This case-control study recruited 66 schizophrenic patients from the Chung Shan Medical University Hospital in central Taiwan. All of them were undergoing olanzapine monotherapy and were categorized into weight gain (WG) and non-weight gain (NWG) groups. Subjects in the control group (CG) were recruited from a healthy community population based on a health survey (n=119). Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the association of ghrelin with weight gain.


RESULTS
The 66 schizophrenic patients had a mean age of 36.3±9.6 years, with 50% females. They received olanzapine treatment for a mean period of 8.3±7.5 years. The control group had a mean age of 38.9±9.3 years and 52.9% were females. Comparing fasting serum ghrelin levels, the WG group had the lowest mean value (822.3±253.1 pg/ml) while the control group had the highest mean value (1261.2±1639.7 pg/ml), with a significant difference between the two (p=0.01). In contrast, there was no difference in adiponectin levels among the three groups. The WG and NWG groups had higher diastolic blood pressure than the control group, but systolic blood pressure was the same in all three groups. There was no difference in the total cholesterol level although the WG and NWG groups had higher triglyceride (TG) and glucose levels than the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Weight gain after olanzapine treatment is associated with lower ghrelin level. Olanzapine is linked to elevated diastolic pressure, TG, and glucose, regardless of the weight gain.
Department of Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Vincent Chin-Hung
VC
Chen
Tsu-Nai
TN
Wang
Mong-Liang
ML
Lu
Jen-Yu
JY
Chou
Po-Chung
PC
Ju
Jui-Yen
JY
Wu
Zheng-Ren
ZR
Lin
Tsai-Tsen
TT
Ji
Chu-En
CE
Chou
Chun-Te
CT
Lee
Te-Jen
TJ
Lai
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D013624:Taiwan; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D052242:Adiponectin; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D054439:Ghrelin; D008055:Lipids; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine