Leptin Resistance - the cause of psoriasis ? (And why Vit D may help)

[stewart_h]

The hormone leptin, secreted by adipocytes (fat cells), has numerous effects, including, among others, immune system regulation, regulation of the reproductive system, and acting as a nutrient signal in the hypothalamus that helps regulate food intake. Leptin is also widely blieved to be pro inflammatory.

A study that found high levels of Leptin in Psoriatics.
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"Patients with psoriasis showed high levels of leptin, adding to the already long list of inflammatory diseases associated with the metabolic hormone, said researchers here.

Elevated leptin levels were independently associated with psoriasis with an odds ratio of 4.57 (95% CI 1.47 to 14.23) in a study of 77 patients with the disease. "Body weight loss could potentially become part of the general treatment of psoriasis, especially in patients with obesity," the researchers said.  Less surprising, patients with high leptin levels were significantly more likely to be overweight -- defined as a body mass index of 28 or higher -- and to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. But high leptin levels were associated with psoriasis independent of these factors, Dr. Chen and colleagues said.

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CRP, which is known to have involvement in psoriasis, has been theorised to be what is inducing Leptin Resistance
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For psoriasis, Vitamin D may work because its believed to be a powerful inhibitor of leptin secretion from white adipose tissue and assists in raising blood calcium levels. I found one study that  was scheduled to look further into this,
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[stewart_h]

Post moved below....

[Lazza]

stewart_h, thanks for the information.  But I really didn't get the inference that leptin causes psoriasis.  It says that a weight loss program, which reduces body fat and in turn affects leptin levels, can be part of a psoriasis treatment program.  What about the many psoriatics who are not overweight and have low body fat?

Yet of course reducing CRP is always good.   


_Lazza

[stewart_h]

HI Lazza ! Good to hear form you.

There is only an inference at this stage out of a a wish for discussion. This isnt yet a full working theory. All this stuff gets very complicated and for that reason alone I like to post so we can all have a good look at it. I always value your posts so please keep looking into it.
 
High levels of Leptin have been detected in a lot of autoimmune disorders and in psoriatics regardless of their weight or obesity.

This suggests that we have in some way become resistant to Leptin, perhaps partially due to the interference of C-rp which blocks the pathway. This inturn creates an over manufacture of Leptin which at high levels is dangerous and the body must find coping mechanisms to regulate it to lower safer levels.

Whether its the key to the whole thing is indeed not clear at all but its an interesting piece of the puzzle for me.

But perhaps lower the resistance to Leptin, then that lowers the bodies need to manufacture it. Again high levels of Leptin are considered dangerous.

[stewart_h]

There is evidence that suggests high Leptin levels could be, at the very least accelerating, automimmune conditions. Lower the resistance to Leptin and the body may start producing less. Break the cycle?

1.
Leptin in autoimmune diabetes:
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2.
2007 Aug;70(2):87-95.
Leptin in autoimmunity: many questions, some answers.Matarese G, Leiter EH, La Cava A.
Laboratorio di Immunologia, Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Napoli, Italy. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Abstract
It has recently become apparent that several molecules involved in the control of metabolism also play an important function in the regulation of immune responses. Among those molecules, the adipocyte-derived cytokine leptin has been shown to significantly influence innate and adaptive immune responses both in normal and in pathological conditions. For example, levels of leptin are typically low in infection and high in autoimmunity, both systemically and at the site of inflammation. Moreover, in addition to its long-known effects on the promotion of T helper 1 immune responses and cell-mediated immunity, leptin has more recently been found capable to constrain proliferation of regulatory T cells. As such, leptin represents not only a link between metabolism and immune responses in general but also a pivotal modulator of the magnitude of selected mechanisms of peripheral immunity in relation to body fat mass. We review here the most recent advances on the role of leptin in the control of immune tolerance and critically discuss how strategies aimed at neutralizing the leptin axis could represent innovative tools for the therapy of autoimmune disorders.

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3.
The Leptin Connection: Regulatory T Cells and AutoimmunityKim J. Hasenkrug1, ,  

1 Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana 59840

Summary
Leptin is a cytokine-like hormone with proinflammatory properties linked to autoimmune diseases. In this issue of Immunity, De Rosa et al. (2007) elucidate an important new role for leptin in the anergy and hyporesponsiveness of regulatory T cells.

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4.
Leptin: linking adipocyte metabolism with cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.Peelman F, Waelput W, Iserentant H, Lavens D, Eyckerman S, Zabeau L, Tavernier J.

Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, VIB09, Department of Medical Protein Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, A. Baertsoenkaai 3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.

Abstract
Leptin was originally discovered as an adipocyte-derived hormone involved in the central control of body weight and energy homeostasis. It is now clear that leptin is a pleiotropic cytokine, with activities on many peripheral cell types. These findings may help explain the surprising role of leptin in pathophysiological processes. Recent evidence suggests that leptin contributes to atherosclerosis and to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in obese people. Leptin also appears to be involved in T-cell-dependent immunity and possibly in the development and maintenance of certain autoimmune diseases. Here, we review the role of leptin in cardiovascular

[stewart_h]

THE LFE article below suggests the use of AFRICAN MANGO (herb) to lower CRP and Leptin resistance.  which in turn will lead to less need for the manufacture of Leptin in the body.

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As dramatic as were the reductions in weight and improvements in body composition, serum changes in markers of inflammation and predictors of heart disease and diabetes were perhaps even more extraordinary. The Irvingia group demonstrated a 26% reduction in total cholesterol, a 27% reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a 32% reduction in fasting blood glucose, and—you guessed it—serum CRP fell by a whopping 52%.23,24


Other herbs/products consistently mentioned on site is scouted were
Vitamin d3,
Curcumin,
Omega oils (high in DHA),
Borage Oil
Pommegranite Juice
acetyl-l-carnitine

Leptin diets suggest:
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1. Limit meals to three modest portions per day, and avoid eating after dinner.

2. Avoid sugary and carb-rich snacks. Choose fruits and vegetables instead.

3. Eat protein for breakfast, including egg whites, meats and whole grains.

4  Cut the carbs. Ease back on consumption of breads and starches, such as potatoes and rice.

5 Follow the advice of nutritionists at BodyandFitness.com by consuming 2,000 to 3,000 mg of calcium each day. Calcium cancels a brain signal known as agouti, which spurs hunger. To be effective, calcium supplements must be part of a calorie-reduction plan.

6 Take vitamin D to inhibit leptin production. As an added benefit, vitamin D also helps the body absorb calcium.

7 Take acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) supplements. ALC is an amino acid that aids the brain in understanding how much leptin the fat cells are generating. When consumed at night, ALC is also shown to produce growth hormone, elevate moods and improve critical thinking skills. The typical recommended dosage is 500 mg of ALC twice a day, in the morning and before bed.

[Lazza]

stewart_h, the upper limit for calcium consumption in men is 2,000-2,500 mg.  Subtracting out the amount of calcium one would consume in a healthy diet and this would leave with taking no more than 1,000 mg (..to be safe).  Of course if you take this amount of calcium you definitely need vitamin D supplementation.  ... and wouldn't taking so much calcium disturb some sort of calcium-magnesium balance in the body? 

The thought of calcium supplementation always scares me.    Calcium is so prevalent in things like veggies and fish that I would never consider taking a calcium supplement.


_Lazza

[stewart_h]

Im not paritcularly convincced calcium is the key issue here either. Im more interested in the genral concept that perhaps wih such a large % of psoriatics showing high levels of leptin in clincial trials that we look down the route of lowering leptin and make ourselves less leptin resistant.

[Vladex]

apparently TNF causes insulin resistance which is probably the same as leptin resistance.The way I see it , it is a sympton of psoriasis
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[stewart_h]

Yes increased Insullin resistance and leptin resistanace seem to prevelent with increased crp and increased tnf activity. But I dont think we know quite yet what causes what. It could be a chicken and egg situation. It's all about bringing the body into balance. Excess Leptin is considered dangerous and has been associated with cancer and heart diseases. Maybe if we bring Leptin under control it will breka that cycle.

A former member Archael cleared himself  by belieivig that psoriasis was a mechanism of the body trying to stop the body going diabetic (circulating excess sugar "safely" tot the skin cells where it would cause an unsightly but safe over production). It was an interesting theory that worked for him. And I've always thought there is the merit in the general idea of using psoriasis as some sort of mechanism, perhaps to stop something worse from occuring