Study of serum levels of leptin, C-reactive protein and nutritional status in hemodialysis patients

Abstract EN

Background: Leptin is secreted by adipose tissue and decreases appetite.

However, the role of leptin in the pathogenesis of hemodialysis (HD)-related malnutrition has not been fully evaluated.

Objectives : The aim of study was to investigate the association between the serum leptin levels, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and nutritional status in hemodialysis patients.

Patients and Methods: This analytical descriptive study included 45 hemodialysis patients and 40 healthy subjects.

Biochemical parameters and serum leptin levels were measured.

The nutritional status was evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the calculation of the body mass index (BMI).

Results : Serum leptin (P < 0.05) and albumin (P < 0.0001) levels and BMI (P < 0.001) of HD patients were significantly lower, while CRP levels were significantly higher than those of controls (P < 0.0001).

HD patients consumed the lower daily servings of the food groups compared to the control subjects (P < 0.0001).

A significant positive correlation between serum levels of leptin and albumin and BMI was demonstrated.

No significant correlations were identified between leptin level, CRP level, and other variables.

Conclusions : The findings suggest that low levels of leptin may be a contributory factor for malnutrition in HD patients.

Further studies are required to ascertain the significance of leptin levels in relation to nutritional factors in hemodialysis patients.