leptin and Helminthiasis

Emerging evidence suggests that helminths might confer protection against the development of type 2 diabetes. We aimed to assess the role of adipokines in mediating the effect of helminths on insulin resistance. Serum samples were obtained from a randomized-controlled trial of anthelmintic treatment in an area endemic for soil-transmitted helminths (STH), Flores Island, Indonesia. In STH-infected subjects, anthelmintic treatment significantly increased the ratio of leptin to adiponectin (treatment effect factor (95% confidence interval (CI)), P-value for interaction: 1.20 (1.06-1.35), P=0.010), which largely stemmed from a significant reduction in adiponectin (0.91 (0.85-0.98), P=0.020) and a trend for an increase in leptin level (1.10 (1.00-1.21), P=0.119). No significant effect on resistin level was observed. This increase in leptin to adiponectin ratio seemed to contribute to the observed effect of deworming on increased insulin resistance (IR) as adjustment for leptin to adiponectin ratio attenuated the effect on IR from 1.07 (1.01-1.14, P=0.023) to 1.05 (0.99-1.11, P=0.075). Anthelmintic treatment in STH-infected subjects increases leptin to adiponectin ratio which may in small part contribute to the modest increase in IR. Further studies will be needed to assess the effect of the changes in adipokine levels on the host immune response and metabolism.

Topics: Adiponectin; Adult; Albendazole; Anthelmintics; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Double-Blind Method; Female; Helminthiasis; Humans; Indonesia; Insulin Resistance; Leptin; Male; Middle Aged; Placebos

The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between intestinal parasitic infection with intestinal and systemic inflammatory markers in school-aged children with high rates of obesity. Plasma concentrations of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), leptin, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 were measured as systemic inflammation markers and count of stool leukocytes as marker of intestinal inflammation in 291 children (6-10 years). Intestinal parasitic infection was measured by stool examination. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the odds of having high inflammatory markers for each parasite or group of parasites as compared to parasite-free children while adjusting for sex, age, mother's educational level and percentage of body fat. The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoa infections was 12% and 36%, respectively. Parasitic infection was not associated with CRP, IL-6, IL-10 or TNF-α. Children infected with Ascaris lumbricoides (aOR: 5.91, 95% CI: 1.97-17.70) and Entamoeba coli (aOR: 8.46, 95% CI: 2.85-25.14) were more likely to have higher stool leucocytes than parasite-free children. Children with multiple infections (aOR: 10.60, 95% CI: 2.85-25.14) were more likely to have higher leptin concentrations than parasite-free children. Intestinal parasitic infection was not associated with systemic inflammation, but was associated with intestinal inflammation. Having multiple infections were associated with higher leptin concentrations.

Topics: Animals; Ascaris lumbricoides; C-Reactive Protein; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Entamoeba histolytica; Feces; Female; Helminthiasis; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-6; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Intestines; Leptin; Male; Obesity; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha