BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is the assessment whether weight loss treatment with adrenergic modulation drugs modifies neuropeptide Y (NPY) plasma concentration in obese women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 13 obese women (BMI 38.3 +/- 4.4) were tested before and subsequently 10 and 20 days after weight loss treatment. The treatment consisted of a very low caloric diet of 400 kcal (1670 kJ) daily combined with ephedrine with caffeine (E + C) or ephedrine with caffeine and yohimbine (E + C + Y) administered for 10 days using the cross-over method. The patients underwent physical examination, including heart rate and blood pressure measurements, spectral heart rate variability (HRV) at rest and after 3 minute handgrip and a 15 minute cycloergometer exercise at 75 W. All the above mentioned tests were carried out thrice in each patient. In 13 obese patients and in 6 control women plasma NPY concentrations were determined by a specific radioimmunoassay using rabbit anti-NPY antiserum and a standard synthetic porcine NPY (Peninsula Lab.). RESULTS: Plasma NPY concentrations were significantly lower in the obese persons compared with the control group. During weight loss treatment with adrenergic modulation drugs no changes in plasma NPY were found at rest and after physical exercise. Also no differences in HRV indices were observed. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Low plasma NPY concentration observed in obesity may be a contraregulatory factor that could prevent further weight increase. 2. Weight reduction treatment did not affect plasma NPY concentration and cardiovascular response to physical exercise. 3. The doses of adrenergic modulation drugs used in our study did not induce any serious side effects, and were so low that no change of plasma NPY concentration and cardiovascular responses were observed at rest.

Adrenergic Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pain sensitivity in obesity.

Pain sensitivity of the obese and control women was investigated using an electrophysiological method. The sensory and pain threshold were higher in the obese than in the control subjects. Pain sensitivity of the control as well as that of the obese women increased significantly during the day from morning to evening. The circadian rhythm of the sensory and pain thresholds with peak values (acrophase) in the morning was significant only in control women. Weight reducing treatment did not change the pain sensitivity in obese women.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of weight reduction on blood pressure and metabolic responses to physical exercise in obese women.

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Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The thermic effect of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee ingested with breakfast.

The thermic effect of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee ingested with a standard breakfast was studied in 8 healthy subjects with indirect calorimetry. A higher increase in the metabolic rate was observed after ingestion of the breakfast with coffee containing caffeine than after that with coffee deprived of caffeine.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Energy expenditure in obese women on a reducing diet.

Energy expenditure during rest and exercise was studied in 13 obese women on a 400 kcal weight-reducing diet. The resting metabolic rate did not decrease during weight reduction. Diminished energy expenditure during standard ergometer test indicates that a progressively increasing physical activity is needed during dietetic treatment to achieve the optimal weight loss.

Adolescent↗