weight loss or type of weight loss diet: which of the two has an effect to the adipokine level?

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Significant weight reduction and not the type of weight loss diet has a great influence to the levels of adipokine released by fat cells in obese patients trying to lose weight, says a new study conducted at Robert Gordon University, Scotland, United Kingdom and published in the 2011 issue of Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity.

The fat tissue, medically known as the adipose tissue, does not only store fats. It also serves as an endocrine organ that releases hormones to influence other organ functions.  One of the most important hormones released by adipose tissues is the adipokine, a special chemical, which is important for the regulation of inflammation and insulin sensitivity within the body.  In a study published in the February 2007 issue of Diabetes, it was shown that fat particularly visceral fat is associated with the noninfectious inflammation seen in patients with obesity problems, making visceral fat distribution as one of the major causes of metabolic diseases in the human population. Adipokines from fat tissues also regulate the appetite and the metabolism of glucose, making this hormone a very important determinant to the amount of calories taken into the body and used for the production of energy. Adipokines comes in different forms. The most common of which are leptin, adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, plasminogen activator inhibitor, resistin, and interleukin 6. Most of these adipokines cause pro-inflammatory reactions within the body. However, resistin, tumor necrosis factor and leptin are the most notorious in producing atherosclerosis or hardening within the blood vessel walls. Adipokine levels usually increase with increased fat tissue bulk. Therefore, the presence of these adipokines is detrimental to one’s health.

The only exception to proinflammatory action of adipokines is adinopectin. Unlike other adipokines, adinopectin has antiatherosclerosis properties. Furthermore, it is also observed to decrease in level with increased fat formation within the body.

Repeatedly, it was proven by several studies that losing weight has a negative effect to the levels of circulating adipokines within the body. Nevertheless, no researcher has yet proven whether the type of weight loss diet has a significant effect to extent of adipokine level decrease.

In this particular study, the researchers were able to demonstrate that weight loss itself and not the macronutrient intake or the type of diet used is important to have an effective decrease in the amount of adipokines within the body. In fact, with a minimum weight loss of 23.8 percent from the baseline weight level, significantly improved the levels of adipokines to a healthier range.

Thus, the researchers of this study concluded the type of weight loss diet does not matter in the normalization of adipokine levels. Actual weight reduction is the only thing that counts.

Reference:

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity; Effect of weight loss on adipokine levels in obese patients; Rolland, C., et al.; 2011

Diabetes; Visceral Fat Adipokine Secretion Is Associated With Systemic Inflammation in Obese Humans; Fontana, L. et al.; February 2007