title: The effect of leptin, caffeine/ephedrine, and their combination upon visceral fat mass and weight loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of combination caffeine/ephedrine and leptin A-200 on visceral fat mass and weight loss over 24 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm trial, 90 obese subjects received one of the three treatments for 24 weeks: 200 mg caffeine/20 mg ephedrine t.i.d. (CE), leptin A-200 (recombinant methionyl human Fc-leptin, 20 mg q.d.) (L), or combination leptin A-200 and caffeine/ephedrine (LCE). Outcomes included change in weight, visceral fat mass by computed tomography, lean mass and fat mass by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Groups treated with CE and LCE lost significant amounts of weight (-5.9 ± 1.2% and -6.5 ± 1.1%, P < 0.05) and whole body fat mass (-9.6 ± 2.4% and -12.4 ± 2.3%, P < 0.05) compared to leptin only group. Only treatment with LCE significantly reduced visceral fat mass (-11.0 ± 3.3%, P < 0.05). There were no differences in lean mass between treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides evidence that CE is a modestly effective weight loss agent and produces significant reductions in fat mass. Leptin A-200 was not effective in producing weight loss and did not have any significant additive or synergistic actions when combined with CE.
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
authors.forename: Ann G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: Frank L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Greenway
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D020738:Leptin; C029944:caffeine, ephedrine drug combination; C122136:recombinant methionyl human leptin; D002110:Caffeine; D004809:Ephedrine