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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2015; 123(08): 466-472
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1559663
Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Plasma Myostatin is only a Weak Predictor for Weight Maintenance in Obese Adults

M. N. Tsioga   *
1   Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
2   Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Essen, Germany
,
D. Oikonomou   *
1   Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
,
S. Vittas
1   Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
,
H. Kalscheuer
1   Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
,
E. Roeder
1   Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
3   Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
,
K. F. Wintgens
4   Immundiagnostik AG, Stubenwald-Allee 8a, Bensheim, Germany
,
P. P. Nawroth
1   Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
,
C. Wolfrum
3   Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
,
G. Rudofsky
1   Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld, Heidelberg, Germany
5   Endokrinologie, Diabetologie und Klinische Ernährung, Kantonsspital Olten, Olten, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 19 May 2015
first decision 17 July 2015

accepted 30 July 2015

Publication Date:
22 September 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Background: Predicting an individual’s success in a non-surgical weight loss approach is a demanding need since obesity is becoming an epidemic burden. A possible predictive marker is myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor b superfamily, which has been shown to be an important regulator of muscle homeostasis.

Methods: In the present study, we analyzed myostatin as a marker to predict weight loss of patients that participated in a 2 phased weight reduction program, comprising a weight loss period of 12 weeks and a weight stabilization period of 40 weeks. Therefore, 62 obese individuals with a mean BMI of 40.6 kg/m2 were included. Plasma myostatin was measured with ELISA at the beginning (T0), after weight loss (T1) and at the end of the program (T2).

Results: Although significant weight loss of −23.9±14.9 kg was achieved, myostatin did not change significantly during the program (T0>T1: p=0.46; T1>T2: p=0.70; T0>T2: p=0.57). Myostatin at baseline did neither negatively correlate with the achieved weight loss in the weight reduction phase (T0>T1: r=0.27, p=0.16) nor with weight loss during the whole program (T0>T2: r=0.20, p=0.29). Only a minor correlation with myostatin levels after weight loss with weight regain during maintenance period was detected. (T1>T2: r=−0.37, p=0.05).

Conclusion: Plasma myostatin might be suitable in predicting weight regain after marked weight loss, but no association with weight loss was observed in patients undergoing a non-surgical weight loss program. Therefore, myostatin does not seem to be a predictor for success in non-surgical weight loss approaches.

Key words

myostatin - obesity - weight reduction - weight stabilization

* Authors contributed equally to this study.


 

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