An endocrine and metabolic definition of the intermeal interval in humans:evidence for a role of leptin on the prandial pattern through fatty acid disposal
D. Chapelot et al., An endocrine and metabolic definition of the intermeal interval in humans:evidence for a role of leptin on the prandial pattern through fatty acid disposal, AM J CLIN N, 72(2), 2000, pp. 421-431
Background: It has been proposed that leptin provides a hormonal link betwe
en adipose stoles and food intake.
Objective: This study investigated the role of leptin in the prandial patte
rn.
Design: In experiment 1, a spontaneous prandial pattern was recreated in 6
young, normal-weight men who were deprived of time cues and had blood withd
rawn continuously at a frequency of one tube every 5 min. Meals were consum
ed ad libitum and dinner was requested voluntarily. Data from a second expe
riment, conducted in 8 subjects, were used to confirm the changes in leptin
during the intermeal interval (IMI),
Results: Plasma leptin gradually rose to a peak (62 +/- 18% of the lunch co
ncentration) during the IMI and declined before the dinner request (-21 +/-
4% of the peak concentration). This preprandial decline was confirmed in e
xperiment 2 (-15 +/- 9%). The leptin concentration at lunch and fat-free ma
ss were the only significant predictors of the SMI (both: r(2) = 0.91, P =
0.03). With fat intake at lunch, the leptin concentration at lunch was a po
sitive predictor of the area under the curve of plasma fatty acids during t
he IMI (r(2) = 0.95, P = 0.01). Moreover, the leptin concentration at lunch
was negatively correlated with energy intake in the first course of this m
eal (r(2) = -0.95, P < 0.005), A similar result was found at dinner (r = -0
.85, P < 0.05). Last, the change in leptin was predicted accurately by chan
ges in glucose, triacylglycerol, and fatty acids (r(2) = 0.87, P < 10(-5)).
Conclusion: Plasma leptin concentrations increase during a spontaneous IMI
and decline before the onset of a meal. The results argue for a role of lep
tin in the prandial pattern through fatty acid peripheral disposal.