title: Association of serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin in schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin play important roles in the regulation of body weight, food intake, and energy homeostasis, and have been suggested to be important biomarkers of metabolic syndrome. In this study, we tried to simultaneously investigate the serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin in schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a period of 2 years, we recruited 37 schizophrenic patients and 65 healthy controls. The levels of metabolic syndrome-related biomarkers including serum adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On applying analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with age and body mass index adjustments, the leptin levels of schizophrenic patients (P = 0.038) were found to be higher than those of healthy controls. However, there were no significant differences in the serum levels of ghrelin or adiponectin between these two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed that serum leptin levels might be more sensitive than ghrelin or adiponectin levels between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls. However, studies with a large sample size are needed to confirm these results.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Meng-Chang
authors: MC
authors: Tsai
authors: Chia-Ming
authors: CM
authors: Chang
authors: Chia-Yih
authors: CY
authors: Liu
authors: Pi-Yueh
authors: PY
authors: Chang
authors: Tiao-Lai
authors: TL
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D003024:Clozapine; D018967:Risperidone