Adipocytokines and Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Schizophrenia

The adipokines leptin, adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) might be associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with schizophrenia. In the present study, we attempted to confirm the results of previous reports and assessed their MetS-related correlation with body fat composition and biochemical parameters. We measured in 46 patients with schizophrenia and MetS serum levels of adiponectin insulin, leptin, TNF-alpha and IL-6 and compared these levels to those of patients with schizophrenia without MetS. The MetS patients had significantly increased leptin levels and leptin/adiponectin ratios, as well as decreased adiponectin levels. Leptin levels correlated with several metabolic parameters, both in patients with and without MetS, including body fat percentage, total fat fold, and body mass index (BMI). Patients without abnormal MetS components had lower levels of leptin and leptin/adiponectin ratios compared with patients who had one or two MetS components. Leptin/adiponectin ratios were higher in patients who had four rather than three MetS components. Multiple regression analysis revealed multiple associations for leptin but only one for adiponectin, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. Our results support an important pathophysiological role for leptin more than adiponectin in patients with schizophrenia with MetS.