Karayiannakis A J, Syrigos K N, Zbar A, Makri G G, Athanasiadis L, Alexiou D, Bastounis E A
First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
J Surg Res. 1998 Dec;80(2):123-8. doi: 10.1006/jsre.1998.5466.
beta-Endorphin is an endogenous opioid involved in the regulation of food intake and obesity as well as in insulin metabolism. In this study, we investigated glucose-induced beta-endorphin, insulin, and glucose responsiveness in morbidly obese patients and the effect of surgically induced weight loss.
Thirty-two healthy, nondiabetic, morbidly obese patients (body mass index over 40 kg/m2) and 32 normal-weight controls were studied. Serum levels of beta-endorphin, insulin, and glucose were measured under basal conditions and during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before and 12 months following vertical banded gastroplasty.
Preoperative basal levels of beta-endorphin, insulin, and glucose and their responses during OGTT in obese patients were significantly higher compared with those of controls. After surgery, basal beta-endorphin, insulin, and glucose levels decreased significantly compared with preoperative values. Postoperative basal insulin and glucose levels were similar to those in controls, while beta-endorphin levels remained significantly higher than those of controls. A significant reduction in total responses of beta-endorphin, insulin, and glucose during OGTT was also observed; however, postoperative beta-endorphin and insulin responses remained significantly higher than in controls.
Morbidly obese patients have an increased glucose-stimulated response of beta-endorphin, insulin, and glucose which is partially corrected with weight loss following vertical banded gastroplasty.
