Open AccessThe Long-Term Impact of High Levels of Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone in Energy Balance Among Obese Adolescents
Author(s) -
Ana Claudia Pelissari Kravchychyn,
Raquel Munhoz da Silveira Campos,
Flávia Campos Corgosinho,
Deborah Cristina Landi Masquio,
Sofia Emanuelle de Castro Ferreira Vicente,
Yasmin Alaby Martins Ferreira,
Patrícia Leão Silva,
Aline de Piano,
Lila Missae Oyama,
Lian Tock,
Marco Túlio de Mello,
Sérgio Tufik,
Ana Raimunda Dâmaso
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
annals of nutrition and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.926
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1421-9697
pISSN - 0250-6807
DOI - 10.1159/000488005
Subject(s) - orexigenic , medicine , endocrinology , neuropeptide y receptor , energy homeostasis , hormone , glucose homeostasis , weight loss , obesity , thermogenesis , neuropeptide , insulin resistance , receptor
Background: Deregulation of orexigenic and anorexigenic pathways occurs among adolescents with obesity. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a key catabolic mediator of energy homeostasis and an important anorexigenic neuropeptide in the control of energy balance and thermogenesis. However, it was not well explored if α-MSH can modulate long-term weight loss therapy responses in a dependent manner according to its concentration. Our hypothesis is that a high α-MSH concentration at baseline promotes better modulation of anorexigenic/orexigenic pathways in obese adolescents. Methods: One hundred ten post-pubertal obese adolescents (body mass index >95th percentile) were submitted to 1 year of interdisciplinary therapy (clinical, nutritional, psychological, physical exercise, and physiotherapy support). Body composition and plasma levels of α-MSH, neuropeptide Y (NPY), melanin-concentrating hormone, and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) were measured before and after therapy. The volunteers were grouped on the basis of Tertiles of α-MSH concentration: Low ( 1.57 ng/mL). Significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: The treatment promoted a significant improvement in body adiposity and fat free mass for all groups. It is important to note that only in the high α-MSH group, a significant increase of the α-MSH/NPY ratio and decrease NPY/AgRP ratio post treatment were observed. Conclusion: The high α-MSH concentration promotes better modulation of anorexigenic/orexigenic pathways in obese adolescents following long-term weight loss therapy and this is important in clinical practice.