PLASMA LEPTIN IN DEPRESSED-PATIENTS AND HEALTHY CONTROLS

Leptin is known to regulate food intake and energy expenditure. Since loss of appetite and body weight are important signs and symptoms of m ajor depression we studied leptin plasma concentrations in both depres sed patients (n = 24) suffering from loss of appetite and a healthy co ntrol group (n = 33). To rule out the possibility of inferences with o ther endocrine parameters known to be changed in depression or suspect ed to be related to leptin, we also studied cortisol, insulin, growth hormone (GH) and GH-binding protein (GHBP). We found that leptin plasm a concentrations did not differ between depressed patients and healthy controls. However, leptin was positively associated with female gende r, body mass index (BMI) and morning insulin. 24-hour mean cortisol wa s not related to leptin. Also, GH and GHBP were not related to leptin when controlled for BMI in an ANCOVA model. We conclude that leptin pl asma concentrations are unchanged in depression and that there is no e vidence for leptin playing a major role in loss of appetite and body w eight in depressed patients.