Increased plasma visfatin concentrations in morbidly obese subjects are reduced after gastric banding

The insulin-mimetic adipocytokine visfatin has been linked to obesity. The influence of weight loss on plasma visfatin concentrations in obese subjects is unknown yet.

In this study we investigated whether plasma visfatin concentrations are altered by weight loss in patients with obesity.

In a prospective study, fasting plasma visfatin, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations were measured before and 6 months after gastric banding in 31 morbidly obese patients aged 40 +/- 11 yr with a body mass index (BMI) of 46 +/- 5 kg/m(2). Fourteen healthy subjects aged 29 +/- 5 yr with a BMI less than 25 kg/m(2) served as controls.

Visfatin plasma concentrations were markedly elevated in obese subjects (0.037 +/- 0.008 microg/ml), compared with controls (0.001 +/- 0.000 microg/ml, P < 0.001). Gastric banding reduced BMI to 40 +/- 5 kg/m(2), visfatin to 19.2 +/- 10.9 ng/ml, and leptin from 39.0 +/- 12.4 to 29.7 +/- 10.0 ng/ml and increased adiponectin from 0.015 +/- 0.007 to 0.017 +/- 0.007 microg/ml (all P < 0.05) after 6 months. Insulin sensitivity as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index was unchanged from 5.8 +/- 3.1 to 4.6 +/- 1.9 (P = 0.13), but individual changes of insulin resistance and visfatin were significantly associated (P < 0.05, r = -0.43).

Elevated plasma visfatin concentrations in morbidly obese subjects are reduced after weight loss. This may be related to changes in insulin resistance over time.