High leptin is tied to obesity, overeating, and inflammation, and if leptin remains high for a long time, leptin resistance may result. Learn about the causes, symptoms & natural factors that lower leptin levels here.<\/p>\n
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Leptin is a satiety hormone that promotes <\/strong>weight loss<\/strong><\/a>. It is produced by the body\u2019s fat cells [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n When a person eats enough food, leptin is released into the bloodstream, where it travels to the brain, signaling that they are full and that can burn calories at a normal rate [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n To learn more about normal leptin levels and what this hormone does in the body, read the first part of this series<\/a>.<\/p>\n This post will focus on the dangers of high leptin. Elevated leptin levels are associated with obesity, overeating, and inflammation-related diseases, including high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n To recap, leptin is one of the big 4 hormones that determine weight. It is made in fat tissue, while receptors for it are dense in two important brain regions (the hypothalamus<\/a> and hippocampus) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin acts as a signal to the brain to inhibit food intake and enable the storage of surplus calories (in fat cells).<\/p>\n At the same time, it protects non-fatty tissue from fat overload. Increased leptin is associated with higher body fat mass, a larger size of individual fat cells, overeating, and excessive hunger<\/a>. In rodents, it increases energy expenditure by using brown fat for energy [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The more fat is present, the more leptin is produced. This feedback loop, when functioning normally, keeps body weight in homeostasis: eating more food increases body fat, which increases leptin secretion, which decreases appetite and increases energy expenditure [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n High leptin levels are believed to be caused by, among other factors:<\/p>\n If you believe that your leptin system is unbalanced, talk to your doctor about any underlying conditions which may require attention.<\/p>\n Leptin is an inflammatory marker, as it responds to inflammatory cytokines from fat tissues. Autoimmune diseases are associated with increased secretion of leptin [R<\/a>]. In terms of both structure and function, leptin resembles IL-6<\/a>.<\/p>\n Leptin increases the release of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha<\/a>, IL-2<\/a>, IL-6<\/a>, and IL-1<\/a>2<\/a> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n It also increases C-Reactive Protein<\/a> (CRP<\/a>) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin provokes the release of proinflammatory cytokines from many cell types, including microglia in the brain [R<\/a>], and is a mediator of cytokine-induced sickness behavior (CFS) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Multiple studies have demonstrated elevated levels of leptin in chronic inflammatory conditions [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n It also increases both red and white blood cells<\/a> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Elevated leptin is associated with higher white blood cell<\/a> (WBC<\/a>) counts in both men and women [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin is believed to cause inflammatory fatigue [R<\/a>]. Leptin is higher in women even when controlling for weight, and women are more likely to be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n This is believed to be, in part, because testosterone<\/a> suppresses leptin in men (clinical trials) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin increases were associated with greater fatigue scores in people with CFS. Some researchers believe that it plays a causal role in CFS; however, chronic fatigue is a controversial and poorly understood condition, and this conclusion is by no means unanimous [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin levels in the blood are also associated with fatigue severity in patients with chronic hepatitis C and irritable bowel syndrome<\/a> (IBS<\/a>) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In people diagnosed with CFS, leptin increases more in response to cortisol<\/a> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin activates the JAK<\/a>2<\/a>\u2013 STAT3<\/a> pathway [R<\/a>] and promotes<\/strong> Th1 responses<\/strong><\/a> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n By stimulating STAT3, it might also stimulate Th17<\/a> responses<\/a> [R<\/a>]. Leptin also changed human dendritic cells (DCs), directing them towards Th1 dominance [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n It was also found to be necessary for Th1 dependent inflammatory processes, acting as a critical regulator of CD4 T cells [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The effect of leptin polarizing T cells towards a Th1 response seems to be mediated by stimulating the synthesis of IL-2<\/a>, IL-12, and IFN-gamma<\/a> (all Th1 cytokines) and inhibiting the production of IL-10<\/a> and IL-4<\/a> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Th1 dominance correlates with excess leptin in this study of dialysis patients [R<\/a>]. If you\u2019re Th2<\/a> dominant, it doesn\u2019t mean leptin isn\u2019t causing problems. It simply means that it\u2019s causing different<\/em> problems.<\/p>\n Mast cells in the human skin, lungs, gut, and the urogenital tract contain leptin and leptin receptors [R<\/a>], suggesting that leptin communicates with mast cells.<\/p>\n It seems like leptin causes mast cells to be more inflammatory [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In metabolic syndrome patients, there was a positive correlation between leptin levels and the number of fat tissue mast cells, suggesting that leptin may stimulate mast cells [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin correlates with (probably increases) mast cell activation in children with asthma who exercised [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n It suppresses appetite, in part, by increasing histamine<\/a> release and activating histamine H1 receptors in the hypothalamus [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin impedes the production of Treg cells<\/a>. Tregs are a critical part of the immune system that creates a tolerance to agents that would otherwise trigger an immune response [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin increases the stress response<\/a> and the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n It activates the HPA axis<\/a> and lowers heart rate<\/a> variability (HRV) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin promotes the growth and spread of cancer. This is one reason why obesity is considered a risk factor for cancer [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n It increases angiogenesis by increasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF<\/a>) levels.<\/p>\n Leptin receptors are found in the heart [R<\/a>]. Studies have linked high leptin levels to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In obese subjects, leptin levels are the most significant predictor of higher levels of fibrinogen<\/a>, a clotting factor considered to be one of the most important risk factors for heart disease [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Even so, high leptin levels also are associated with high blood pressure [R<\/a>], although this might be because of leptin resistance because leptin infusion in rats lowers blood pressure [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin increases endothelin<\/a>-1 production, which is a potent vasoconstrictor [R<\/a>]. By constricting blood vessels, leptin\/endothelin-1 could play a role in the development of heart disease [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Higher leptin levels in the body can cause the body’s pain<\/a> sensitivity to increase. This is because it can cause inflammation, which plays a role in pain [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a study of 3 fibromyalgia patients, they reported higher pain levels on days when they had increased leptin in their blood. A cohort study of 5,600 postmenopausal women showed similar results [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin may increase pain by activating inflammatory markers (IL-1B<\/a>, IL-6, IL-18<\/a>) or preventing pain modulating signaling [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n It is secreted by the stomach and enters the small intestine. Several studies have shown that leptin interferes with the absorption of some nutrients.<\/p>\n It enhances butyrate<\/a> uptake [R<\/a>], intestinal transport of fructose [R<\/a>] and oligopeptides [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Leptin decreases glucose<\/a> [R<\/a>] and galactose uptake [R<\/a>]. It also inhibited the absorption of Proline, Beta-Alanine<\/a>, and Glutamine<\/a> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n On the one hand, I could see this being both bad and good. If it blocks the absorption of glucose and amino acids, it can help weight loss.<\/p>\n However, blocking glucose uptake gives a better chance for SIBO<\/a> to arise or for malnutrition from not absorbing amino acids.<\/p>\n Many researchers have argued that chronically high leptin levels can lead to leptin resistance, much like chronically high insulin levels can lead to insulin resistance. Symptoms of leptin resistance include [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n This post<\/a> goes into more detail about leptin resistance.<\/p>\n Leptin is increased after meals, more by carbohydrates than by fat in both obese and healthy people [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n When stressed, the body releases leptin, and increased leptin is associated with increased consumption of comfort foods [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Overeating during meals promotes increased leptin production. By contrast, eating smaller meals and a higher proportion of protein may decrease leptin [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A diet low in carbohydrates and fat may reduce leptin release [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Anti-inflammatory foods, such as fatty fish, olive oil<\/a>, nuts, fruits, and vegetables may likewise reduce leptin production [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Short-term fasting decreases leptin (24-72 hours) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Intermittent fasting<\/a> is considered the safest and most accessible form of fasting. Talk to your doctor before making significant changes to your diet [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Emotional stress, the stress hormone cortisol, and anti-inflammatory steroid drugs all increase leptin. Reducing stress may reduce leptin [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Exercise<\/a> lowers leptin production [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n If you are suffering from inflammatory symptoms, especially if they persist for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor about possible underlying causes of this inflammation.<\/p>\n Estrogen<\/a> increases leptin. This is usually bad, especially in men and because excess estrogens have been linked to leptin resistance [R<\/a>]<\/p>\n Sleep apnea is linked to increased leptin in obese people. In one study, leptin levels returned to normal after CPAP treatment [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Exposure to cold temperatures can decrease leptin [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n All the following have decreased leptin in various studies. However, these do not present appropriate strategies for decreasing leptin and improving health.<\/p>\n<\/a>Leptin\u2019s Role in Weight<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>High Leptin<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Underlying Conditions<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Negative Health Effects<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>1) Inflammation<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>2) Fatigue<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>3) Th1 Immunity<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>4) Mast Cells<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>5) Regulatory T cells<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>6) HPA Axis<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>7) Cancer<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>8) Heart Disease<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>9) Pain Sensitivity<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>10) Nutrient Absorption<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/a>11) Leptin Resistance<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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<\/a>Factors that Affect Leptin Levels<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>1) Diet<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Fasting<\/h4>\n
<\/a>2) Stress<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>3) Exercise<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>4) Toxin Exposure & Inflammation<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/a>5) Estrogen<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>6) Sleep Apnea<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>7) Cold Showers<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Other Factors<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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