Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: Night eating syndrome (NES) is one of the most common eating disorder in patients with obesity and diabetes type 2 (DT2). It may affect the management and outcome of DT2. Liraglutide is used for obesity and DT2 management. It controls glucose metabolism, suppresses hunger, and causes weight loss. Leptin is a hormone produced by adipose tissue after food intake in order to promote satiety and maintain fat storage. Our aim was to evaluate how liraglutide affects leptin levels after 3 months of administration in obese patients with NES and DT2.

Materials and methods: 82 individuals (mean age – 61.3±7.4 years; BMI - 33.7±3.2 kg/m²; history of diabetes<5 years) with DT2 and obesity were recruited into the study. After completing Night Eating Questionnaire, 17 individuals (20,7%) were screened positive for NES. 1st study group (n=8) with NES started therapy with metformin and liraglutide 1,8 mg daily. 2nd study group (n=9) used metformin and SGLT2-inhibitors for DT2 management. Leptin levels were measured twice: at the start of the study and after 3 months of liraglutide administration.

Results: The initial level of leptin in the 1st study group decreased from 11.02±5.2 ng/ml to 6.6±3.7 ng/ml (P<0.05); they also demonstarted greater weight loss and reduction in the number of night eating episodes. In the 2nd study group leptin levels also reduced (12.3±6.4 ng/ml to 11.4±5.7 ng/ml), but not significantly (P>0.05); number of night eating episodes did not change.

Conclusion: Liraglutide provides multifunctional positive effects on individuals with obesity and DT2. Owing to suppression of hunger center in hypothalamus and promoting satiety, liraglutide improves NES by reducing number of night eating episodes. Leptin level changes reflect body weight loss as well as renovation of sensitivity in hypothalamus to peripheral appetite-controlling peptides and reducing of leptin resistance.