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Effects of seafood consumption and weight loss on fasting leptin and ghrelin concentrations in overweight and obese European young adults

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Abstract

Background

Energy restriction affects circulating leptin and ghrelin concentrations.

The aim of this study

To investigate whether seafood consumption affects fasting leptin and ghrelin concentrations in addition to weight loss.

Methods

In this 8-week dietary intervention, subjects (324 Icelandic, Spanish and Irish subjects, 20–40 years, BMI 27.5–32.5 kg/m2) were randomized to energy-restricted diets (−30%) of identical macronutrient composition but different amount of seafood: control (no seafood); lean fish (150 g cod, three times per week); fatty fish (150 g salmon, three times per week); EPA&DHA [daily docosahexaenoic (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) capsules]. Anthropometric data, ghrelin, leptin, and insulin were measured at baseline and endpoint. Linear models investigated the effects of seafood on fasting leptin, ghrelin and insulin.

Results

Body weight (−5.2 ± 3.0 kg), leptin (−34.8%) and insulin (−13.5%) decreased, while ghrelin increased (5.6%) (all P < 0.001). According to linear models endpoint insulin was significantly lower in the EPA&DHA group (−16.4%, P = 0.025) compared to control, endpoint leptin in men was lower in the salmon group (−22.9%, P = 0.026), and the EPA&DHA group tended to have higher endpoint ghrelin (5.6%, P = 0.060), an effect seen only in women indicated by a significant gender × EPA&DHA interaction. Weight loss explained the effects of fatty seafood on leptin and ghrelin, but not insulin.

Conclusions

Consumption of fatty seafood can modulate fasting insulin, ghrelin and leptin during an 8-week intervention. Effects are partly gender specific and are partly explained by weight loss. Consumption of lean fish does not affect circulating hormones in comparison to control. The most consistent effect on circulating hormones is mediated by weight loss.

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Acknowledgments

This work is included in the SEAFOODplus YOUNG, co-ordinated by Prof. Inga Thorsdottir, being part of the SEAFOODplus Integrated Project, which is funded by the European Commission through the 6th Framework Programme Contract with Ref. FOOD-CT-2004-506359. So, thanks are given to the EU-Commission for financial support as well as to volunteers who participated in the study. The YOUNG study (co-ordinator Prof. Inga Thorsdottir) is part of the SEAFOODplus Integrated Project (co-ordinator Prof. Torger Børresen), which is funded by the EC through the 6th Framework Programme Contract No FOOD-CT-2004-506359. The trial is registered at the US National Library of Medicine (Nr. NCT00315770).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Unit for Nutrition Research, Landspitali-University Hospital, University of Iceland, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Alfons Ramel & Inga Thorsdottir

  2. Dept. of Physiology and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Navarra, Spain

    Dolores Parra & J. Alfredo Martinéz

  3. Dept. of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Mairead Kiely

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  1. Alfons Ramel
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  2. Dolores Parra
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  3. J. Alfredo Martinéz
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  5. Inga Thorsdottir
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Correspondence to Inga Thorsdottir.

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Ramel, A., Parra, D., Martinéz, J.A. et al. Effects of seafood consumption and weight loss on fasting leptin and ghrelin concentrations in overweight and obese European young adults. Eur J Nutr 48, 107–114 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0769-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-008-0769-9

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