c-peptide and Feeding-and-Eating-Disorders

Disturbances in glucose metabolism are of importance for violent behaviour in men, but studies in women are lacking. We used the 5h-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in this study of 17 female psychiatric patients, selected for violent behaviour directed against themselves (deliberate self-harm) and 17 healthy controls matched for age and BMI. Following OGTT, patients had higher glucose levels at 30 min (p=0.007) and increased glucagon area under the curve (p=0.011). Since a co-morbid eating disorder might affect results, we as a post-hoc analysis subgrouped the patients and found that the increased glucagon levels only were present in patients with an eating disorder. In contrast, those without an eating disorder showed a significantly lower p-glucose nadir (p=0.015) and unaltered glucagon levels compared to controls. There were no significant differences in insulin and C-peptide levels between patients and controls. We conclude that deliberate self-harm in women may be associated with alterations in carbohydrate metabolism in certain groups. Eating disorder is a confounding factor.

Topics: Adult; Blood Glucose; C-Peptide; Case-Control Studies; Comorbidity; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Glucose Intolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Insulin; Self-Injurious Behavior; Young Adult

Leptin, which was discovered only a decade ago, is a peptide that informs hypothalamic areas about the energy balance of the body. New research findings, has suggested a possible role of leptin in eating disorders as well. Few data are available about the relationship between leptin, insulin and glucose metabolism in the pathomechanism of eating disorders. The authors were searching for answers to these relationships in their investigations.. The study groups included 56 patients with eating disorders and 22 healthy subjects served as controls. The diagnosis was based on DSM-IV criteria. For measuring leptin, insulin and C-peptide serum concentrations a radioimmunoassay method was applied, and serum glucose concentrations were detected by spectrofluorimetry. Detailed statistical analysis of the results was carried out.. A correlation between BMI and serum leptin concentration could be proved only in anorectic patients. In contrast to former findings, there was no correlation between BMI and leptin concentration in the bulimia group, and the leptin concentrations were significantly higher in bulimic patients than in the control group. During the glucose tolerance test, leptin levels showed a significant decrease in the anorexia group.. The results raise the possibility of a direct effect of central regulatory mechanisms of food intake in the pathomechanism of anorexia nervosa.

Topics: Adult; Anorexia Nervosa; Blood Glucose; Body Mass Index; Bulimia Nervosa; C-Peptide; Case-Control Studies; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Insulin; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Radioimmunoassay; Spectrometry, Fluorescence