Kravchychyn ACP, et al. - Researchers hypothesized that a high alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) concentration at baseline promotes better modulation of anorexigenic/orexigenic pathways in obese adolescents. Findings suggested that in obese adolescents following long-term weight loss therapy, better modulation of anorexigenic/orexigenic pathways were promoted with high α-MSH concentration and this was important in clinical practice.

Methods

• Authors submitted 110 post-pubertal obese adolescents (body mass index >95th percentile) to 1 year of interdisciplinary therapy (clinical, nutritional, psychological, physical exercise, and physiotherapy support).
• Before and after therapy, body composition and plasma levels of α-MSH, neuropeptide Y (NPY), melanin-concentrating hormone, and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) were measured.
• Researchers grouped the volunteers on the basis of Tertiles of α-MSH concentration: Low (<0.75 ng/mL), Medium (≤0.76 to ≥l1.57 ng/mL), and High (>1.57 ng/mL). Significance was set as p < 0.05.

Results

• Findings suggested that the a significant improvement in body adiposity and fat free mass for all groups was promoted with the treatment.
• A significant increase of the α-MSH/NPY ratio and decrease NPY/AgRP ratio post treatment were observed in the he high -MSH group,