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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #406976
Research Project: Metabolic and Epigenetic Regulation of Nutritional Metabolism

Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center

Title: Baseline leptin predicts response to metformin in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and increased body mass index

Author
item ISMAIL, HEBA - Indiana University
item BARUA, SOUPTIK - New York University
item WANG, JOHNNY - Rice University
item SABHARWAL, ASHUTOSH - Rice University
item LIBMAN, INGRID - University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center
item BACHA, FIDA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item NADEAU, KRISTEN - University Of Colorado
item TOSUR, MUSTAFA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item REDONDO, MARIA - Baylor College Of Medicine

Submitted to: Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2023
Publication Date: 7/24/2023
Citation: Ismail, H.M., Barua, S., Wang, J., Sabharwal, A., Libman, I., Bacha, F., Nadeau, K.J., Tosur, M., Redondo, M.J. 2023. Baseline leptin predicts response to metformin in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and increased body mass index. Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.15218.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.15218

Interpretive Summary: This study investigated the predictors of response to metformin added to insulin in the treatment of therapy in youth with type 1 diabetes and overweight or obesity. The investigators found that baseline levels of the hormone leptin might be a useful predictor of response to metformin therapy. Leptin is a hormone released by fat tissue and higher leptin levels could reflect greater insulin resistance. Those with a higher leptin levels had a greater improvement of hemoglobin A1c in response to metformin. In the future, larger studies are needed to verify whether leptin can serve as an adequate biomarker for treatment response in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Technical Abstract: There is an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Further, the rate of overweight and obesity continues to be on the rise among people with T1D compared with general population trends. This is problematic because obesity-induced insulin resistance increases exogenous insulin needs, with a higher risk of hypoglycaemia, weight gain, chronic inflammation, dyslipidaemia and long-term cardiovascular complications.