Relationship between obesity and serum resistin, apelin, and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c levels: the changes in the analyte levels durin g weight loss in obese patients

OBJECTIVE: In obesity, the fat storage in the body increases excessively and affects the whole metabolism. METHODS: Sixty-two obese patients were included in the study. The effect of weight loss, which was achieved with a 3-month diet/exercise program, on the following analyteswas investigated; serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triacylglycerol, triglycerides (TAG), glucose, resistin, apelin, and a transcription factor sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, and blood hemoglobin A1c. Basal (prediet/exercise) levels of analytes were taken as control values, and they were compared to the postdiet/exercise levels. RESULTS: After the 3-month diet/exercise program, apelin, hemoglobin A1c, and triacylglycerol, triglycerides levels decreased compared to basal levels, and those of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c, glucose, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased. CONCLUSION: Consideringthe insulin-like effects of apelin, high levels of apelin in prediet/exercise phase can be interpreted as a kind of resistance to apelin, and the decreased postdiet/exercise apelin levels as a kind of normalization of it. The decrease in hemoglobin A1c and triacylglycerol, triglycerides levels following weight loss can be appreciated. High basal serum sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c levels suggest an increase in lipogenesis. The increases in glucose and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol after diet/exercise program remain in a physiological range. However, we thinkthat a longer diet/exercise follow-up in a larger population will further elaborate on the issue.