Nesfatin-1 as a potential marker for functional hypothalamic amenorrhea

Abstract

Objective

Nesfatin-1 plays an important role in regulating metabolism, appetite, gut motility, and eating behavior. It is suspected that abnormalities in nesfatin-1 secretion may be involved in the development of anorexia nervosa, and as such, this study aims to investigate the “circumstances of” nesfatin-1 in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA).

Materials and Methods

One hundred and forty-seven patients with FHA were enrolled to the present study. A control group consisting of 88 healthy, age-matched subjects was used. Both study and control groups had blood samples drawn to establish baseline serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, fT4, morning cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone, glucose, and insulin. Nesfatin-1 was also measured with the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Patients with FHA were found to have a significantly decreased concentration of serum nesfatin-1 when compared to healthy controls (6.21 ± 4.79 vs. 8.64 ± 6.63 respectively, p = 0.005). No statistically significant difference in nesfatin-1 levels was found between patients with normal and decreased BMI in the FHA group. Significant positive correlation was observed between serum nesfatin-1 concentration and 17-β-estradiol, while a significant negative correlation was observed between serum nesfatin-1 concentration and patient age, fasting glucose, and HDL levels.

Conclusions

This is the first known study to examine nesfatin-1 concentration in the context of clinical FHA. Patients with FHA were found to have decreased serum nesfatin-1 concentrations. This finding may prove instrumental in our future approach managing patients with FHA.

摘要

目的

摄食抑制因子1在调节新陈代谢、食欲、肠道运动和饮食行为方面起着重要作用。人们怀疑摄食抑制因子1的分泌异常可能参与神经性厌食的发展, 因此, 本研究旨在调查功能性下丘脑闭经（FHA）患者的摄食抑制因子1的 “情况”。

材料和方法

本研究招募了147名FHA患者。对照组由88名健康、年龄匹配的女性组成。研究组和对照组都进行了抽血, 以测定黄体生成素、卵泡刺激素、雌二醇、催乳素、甲状腺刺激素、FT4、清晨皮质醇、硫酸脱氢表雄酮、睾酮、葡萄糖和胰岛素的基线血清浓度。并用酶联免疫吸附法测定摄食抑制因子1。

结果

与健康对照组相比, FHA患者的血清中摄食抑制因子1的浓度明显下降（分别为6.21±4.79 vs. 8.64±6.63, P=0.005）。在FHA组中, 低BMI和正常BMI的患者之间没有发现统计学上的显著差异。血清中的摄食抑制因子1浓度与17-β-雌二醇之间存在显著的正相关, 而与患者年龄、空腹血糖和HDL水平之间存在显著的负相关。

结论

这是已知的第一个在临床FHA背景下测定摄食抑制因子1浓度的研究。发现FHA患者血清摄食抑制因子1浓度降低。这一发现可能对我们未来管理FHA患者的方法有帮助。

Keywords:

• nesfatin-1
• functional hypothalamic amenorrhea
• NUCB2
• hypothalamus

关键词:

• 摄食抑制因子1
• 功能性下丘脑性闭经
• NUCB2
• 下丘脑

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.