Affect of serum leptin on nutritional status in renal disease

Protein-energy malnutrition is a major comorbid condition in persons with renal disease. A variety of interventions have been implemented to supplement protein and energy intake in malnourished patients with renal disease, but the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition remains high. Leptin, a hormone secreted by adipose tissue, decreases food intake via neuroendocrine systems in the hypothalamus in persons with normal renal function. Serum leptin levels are elevated in patients with chronic renal insufficiency and end-stage renal disease, and experimental evidence suggests a possible role for leptin in the development of protein-energy malnutrition in this population. Release of leptin from adipocytes may be stimulated by cytokines mediating the inflammatory response, which is frequently pronounced in patients with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. This article provides an overview of research conducted on serum leptin levels in different stages of renal disease, and the relationship among serum leptin, body composition, biochemical indexes, and markers of inflammation in persons with end-stage renal disease. Effects of intradialytic parenteral nutrition and anabolic factors on leptin levels and nutritional status are briefly reviewed.