The effect of liposuction and diet on ghrelin, adiponectin, and leptin levels in obese Zucker rats

BACKGROUND: The fat-regulating hormones, adiponectin, ghrelin, and leptin, have been studied extensively with the hope that some therapeutic modality might be gleaned from their augmentation or blockade. The authors studied levels of ghrelin, adiponectin, and leptin after liposuction in obese male Zucker rats. In addition, they altered the fat and carbohydrate content of the rats' postoperative diets to determine whether diet affects hormonal levels and/or liposuction outcome. METHODS: Thirty-five male, obese Zucker rats were divided into four experimental groups. Group I (n = 10) was fed a low-fat/low- carbohydrate diet; group II (n = 10) was fed a regular chow diet; and group III (n = 10) was fed a high-fat/high-carbohydrate diet. Five additional rats served as the baseline, unoperated group. The experimental rats underwent subcutaneous liposuction, and for 6 weeks they were then fed their experimental diets starting on day 0. Experimental rats were euthanized on day 42 and blood was sampled for hormonal, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. RESULTS: Triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the high-fat/high-carbohydrate group compared with the regular chow and low-fat/low-carbohydrate groups, indicating an effect of diet on systemic circulation after liposuction. Ghrelin levels decreased significantly and leptin levels demonstrated an increasing trend after liposuction. Adiponectin levels did not demonstrate any change with alteration in diet or liposuction. CONCLUSIONS: Liposuction may prove to offer patients medically therapeutic benefits through hormonal alterations. After liposuction, diet plays an important role in weight gain.