Plasma leptin levels are lower in females, but not males, with ketamine use disorder.
Ming-Chyi Huang, Li-Jung Chiang, Wan-Hsi Chien, Tung-Hsia Liu, Chun-Hsin Chen, Yu-Li Liu
The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse September 2, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2024.2394963 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractFemales with ketamine use disorder have lower leptin levels than healthy females, and those lower levels persist even after two weeks of abstinence. In contrast, males with ketamine use disorder show leptin levels similar to healthy males at the start of abstinence, and their leptin levels increase after two weeks of abstinence. Leptin is a hormone linked to addiction, and these sex-specific differences may be relevant for understanding recovery from ketamine dependence.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 130 |
| Population | Individuals with ketamine use disorder and healthy controls |
| Duration | 2-week abstinence period |
| Keywords | Leptin Early abstinence Females Ketamine use disorder Sex difference |
| Key finding | Females with ketamine use disorder had persistently lower leptin levels and leptin/BMI ratio compared to same-sex controls across baseline and two weeks of abstinence, while males showed no initial difference but an increase after two weeks of abstinence. |
Abstract
Background: Ketamine has emerged as a prominent substance of misuse. Leptin, an adipocyte-derived polypeptide hormone, has been implicated in the development of addiction. Sex-specific changes in leptin levels have been demonstrated following acute ketamine administration; the persistence of long-term ketamine use on leptin levels is uncertain.Objectives: To assess the sex-difference of leptin levels, and their persistence, in individuals with ketamine use disorder (KUD) compared to healthy controls.Methods: Plasma leptin levels were measured in 62 healthy controls (37 males, 25 females) and 68 participants with KUD (50 males, 18 females) on the first day (baseline) and after 1 and 2 weeks of abstinence. As leptin levels are affected by body mass index (BMI), BMI-adjusted leptin (leptin/BMI ratio) was also examined. Mixed model for repeated measures was used to examine changes after ketamine abstinence.Results: Compared to same-sex controls, female, but not male, participants with KUD demonstrated lower leptin levels and leptin/BMI ratio at baseline, week 1, and week 2 (leptin levels: p = .001, 0.006 and 0.032, respectively; leptin/BMI ratio: p = .004, 0.022, and 0.09, respectively). Repeated measures showed that leptin levels and the leptin/BMI ratio increased after 2 weeks of abstinence in male participants with KUD (p = .002 and 0.011, respectively), but females did not show such an increase (p > .05).Conclusions: Sex-specific differences were observed in leptin levels and the leptin/BMI ratio in individuals with KUD compared to controls. Lower leptin levels in females with KUD persisted after 2 weeks of abstinence.