(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Patients with psoriasis may have higher levels of
an obesity-related hormone.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that results in a red, scaly rash.
Associations have been made between psoriasis and obesity, hypertension,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. A new study
done by researchers at Taichung General Hospital and National Chung Hsing
University in Taiwan provides new insight into the obesity and psoriasis link.
Researchers studied 77 patients with psoriasis and 81 individuals who were the
same age and sex but did not have psoriasis. Patients with psoriasis were found
to have higher levels of leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells that may
contribute to obesity, than individuals who did not have psoriasis.
Study authors point out high circulating leptin levels in individuals with
psoriasis may derive not only from fat tissue but also from inflammation. The
also added there are measures that can be taken to reduce leptin levels. “Body
weight loss has been reported to significantly decrease leptin levels and
improve insulin sensitivity and may reduce the likelihood of developing
metabolic syndrome and adverse cardiovascular diseases,” study authors were
quoted as saying.
SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology, 2008;144:1571-1575
