Early and Strong Leptin Reduction Is Predictive for Long-Term Weight Loss during High-Protein, Low-Glycaemic Meal Replacement—A Subanalysis of the Randomised-Controlled ACOORH Trial

Abstract

Lifestyle interventions including meal replacement are suitable for prevention and treatment of obesity and type-2-diabetes. Since leptin is involved in weight regulation, we hypothesised that a meal replacement-based lifestyle intervention would reduce leptin levels more effectively than lifestyle intervention alone. In the international, multicentre, randomised-controlled ACOORH-trial (Almased-Concept-against-Overweight-and-Obesity-and-Related- Health-Risk), overweight or obese participants with metabolic syndrome criteria (n = 463) were randomised into two groups and received telemonitoring devices and nutritional advice. The intervention group additionally used a protein-rich, low-glycaemic meal replacement. Data were collected at baseline, after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. All datasets providing leptin data (n = 427) were included in this predefined subanalysis. Serum leptin levels significantly correlated with sex, body mass index, weight, and fat mass at baseline (p p p p p = 0.003) in males) and in those participants with combined leptin and insulin decrease. A meal replacement-based lifestyle intervention effectively reduces leptin which is predictive for long-term weight loss.

Keywords

• leptin
• protein-rich
• low-glycaemic meal replacement
• weight reduction
• multicentre study
• RCT