J Korean Child Neurol Soc.
2010 Nov;18(2):292-299.
Effects of Topiramate on Body Weight and Serum Levels of Insulin and Leptin in Young Rats Fed a High Fat Diet
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. iglee@catholic.ac.kr
- 2Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- PURPOSE
Topiramate is an antiepileptic drug used widely in the treatment of epilepsy. It has also been reported to reduce body weight in humans and is currently used for eating disorders and obesity; little is known about the mechanism by which this drug induces weight loss. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of topiramate on weight and serum levels of insulin and leptin in young rats fed high fat diet (HFD).
METHODS
Forty male Wistar rats (4 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups (diet, regular diet and high fat diet, treatment, topiramate and placebo). Topiramate (50 mg/kg/day) was orally administered via gastric gavage twice a day for 4 weeks. Food intake and body weight were monitored throughout the study. After 4 weeks, the plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, free fatty acids, leptin, and insulin were determined.
RESULTS
We found significant reduction in body weight gain after topiramate administration in the HFD group (topiramate, 351.6 +/- 28.6g; placebo, 397.6 +/- 28.4g) (P<0.05). Topiramate was able to reduce food intake in both diet groups (P<0.05). Furture, fasting glucose levels were significantly lower in both topiramate groups than placebo groups (P<0.05), and serum leptin levels in the HFD group were decreased (P<0.05). Additionally, there was no significant difference in serum levels of triglycerides, free fatty acids, or insulin between the four groups.
CONCLUSION
Topiramate significantly inhibited body weight gain by reducing food intake, especially in the HFD group and reduced serum levels of glucose in both diet groups and of leptin in the HFD group.