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Horm Metab Res 2012; 44(06): 465-470
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1306341
Humans, Clinical
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Weight Loss Due to a Very Low Calorie Diet Differentially Affects Insulin Sensitivity and Interleukin-6 Serum Levels in Nondiabetic Obese Human Subjects

F. Oberhauser   *
1    Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
D. M. Schulte   *
1    Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
2    Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
,
M. Faust
1    Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
H. Güdelhöfer
1    Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
M. Hahn
3    Institute of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
N. Müller
2    Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
,
K. Neumann
2    Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
,
W. Krone
1    Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
M. Laudes
2    Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 29 August 2011

accepted 22 February 2012

Publication Date:
21 March 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Inflammatory mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes with interleukin (IL)-6 being particularly important. While long term exercise has been shown to be associated with reduction in IL-6 serum levels in several reports, the discussion on the effect of dietary intervention on IL-6 serum levels is controversial. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of weight loss due to a very low calorie diet (VLCD) on insulin sensitivity and IL-6 serum levels in nondiabetic obese human individuals. 10 patients with obesity were examined during 12 weeks of a VLCD (800 kcal/d). Body composition was measured by impedance analysis. Blood samples were taken before, during, and after the dietary intervention. Leptin, adiponectin, and IL-6 serum levels were measured by ELISA. The body weight decreased significantly from 123.9±6.2–103.5±5.6 kg with a significant reduction in body fat content (43.2±2.3–36.1±3.1%). Leptin levels exhibited a significant decrease from 56.8±5.6–27.9±5.6 ng/ml while adiponectin levels increased significantly from 7.5±0.9–10.6±1.1 μg/ml. Thereby the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio, a novel marker for insulin sensitivity, significantly improved. Mean IL-6 serum concentrations were within the normal range (3.2±0.8 pg/ml) before the study and were not significantly altered by the nutritional therapy. Despite improvement of insulin sensitivity, IL-6 serum levels did not change throughout the study period, suggesting that in nondiabetic obese human subjects IL-6 might have only a minor role in the impairment of insulin sensitivity.

Key words

inflammation - metabolism - obesity
*

*  These authors contributed equally to this work.


 

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