Lowering Leptin Levels Aids Hypertension

A study has found that lowering leptin levels and making other metabolic changes are key factors in treating obesity-related hypertension. Leptin is a protein made in fat cells that appears to play an important role in how the body manages fat. The study was reported in the June 2001 issue of the American Journal of Hypertension.

The researchers divided 95 obese, hypertensive men (aged 37-54) into five groups at the start of the one-year study. Two of the groups were 1) a weight reduction program without medication and 2) taking an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or calcium channel blocker with or without a weight reduction program. Three other groups were created during the study for those men who lost weight and for those who failed. Weight reduction was achieved by a low caloric diet and at least one hour of daily exercise.



The success rate in weight loss (10% or more) was 65% for the weight reduction alone group, 60% in the ACE inhibitor and weight reduction group, and 40% in the calcium channel blocker and weight reduction group. Patients in the drug treatment groups reached target blood pressure by the sixth month. The main findings were that weight loss was better than drugs in reducing high levels of insulin and leptin, weight loss amplified the effects of both drug treatments, ACE inhibition had a more striking effect on lowering leptin levels, and normalizing or suppressing sympathetic overactivity appeared to be a primary factor in reducing blood pressure by weight loss.

"This study demonstrates that weight loss is associated with metabolic changes such as suppressing leptin, insulin, and sympathetic nervous system activity,” said Michael A. Weber, M.D., an editor of the American Journal of Hypertension. "Weight loss should be an integral part of treatment for obesity-related hypertension.”




Related Links:
American. Society of Hypertension