Serum Oxytocin predicts body dysmorphic concerns and ketosis occurrence in patients withobesity on a VLCKD

Rebecca Rossetti; Rossella Tozzi; Davide Masi; Curreli Maria Ignazia; Sabrina Basciani; Spoltore Maria Elena; Elena Gangitano; Paola Nevi; Orietta Gandini; Vittoria Strinati; Massari Maria Chiara; Mikiko Watanabe; Stefania Mariani; Lucio Gnessi; Carla Lubrano

doi:10.1530/endoabs.99.P79

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Endocrine Abstracts (2024) 99 P79 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.99.P79

ECE2024 Poster Presentations Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolism and Nutrition (130 abstracts)

Serum Oxytocin predicts body dysmorphic concerns and ketosis occurrence in patients withobesity on a VLCKD

Rebecca Rossetti ¹ , Rossella Tozzi ¹ , Davide Masi ¹ , Maria Ignazia Curreli ¹ , Sabrina Basciani ¹ , Maria Elena Spoltore ¹ , Elena Gangitano ¹ , Paola Nevi ¹ , Orietta Gandini ¹ , Vittoria Strinati ¹ , Maria Chiara Massari ¹ , Mikiko Watanabe ¹ , Stefania Mariani ¹ , Lucio Gnessi ¹ & Carla Lubrano ¹

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¹Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Roma, Italy

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic neurometabolic disorder with complex psychological aspects. Patients with obesity often suffer from eating disorders and altered body image perception and show increased plasma concentrations of oxytocin (OT).

Objective and Design: This pilot study investigates the interplay between psychological factors, OT levels, and very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD)-induced weight loss. We collected data from patients with overweight or obesity undergoing VLCKD, assessing anthropometrics, metabolism, psychometrics, and OT levels at baseline (t0) and after 45 days of diet (t1). The psychometric analysis involved the Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R), the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), and the Twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS 20).

Results: Forty-seven participants (28 females) were enrolled, exhibiting a mean baseline BMI of 35.88±4.37 kg/m² and a serum OT concentration of 1163.74±410.08 pg/ml at t0. Following VLCKD intervention, significant alterations in anthropometric, biochemical, and body composition parameters were evident at t1. Notably, a substantial average weight loss of -8.8 kg and a significant reduction in mean BMI to 32.76 kg/m² (P<0.001) were observed. Additionally, a remarkable decline in OT levels to 734.35±203.35 pg/ml was recorded (P<0.001). Correlation analyses revealed associations between baseline OT levels and body weight (r=0.35, P<0.05), BMI (r=0.39, P<0.05), total fat mass (r=0.35, P<0.05), trunk fat (r=0.33, P<0.05), and android fat distribution (r=0.43, P<0.05). Psychometric evaluations unveiled pathological BUT Global Severity Index (BUT-GSI) in 39% of participants, with OT exhibiting a direct association with BUT-GSI (r=0.416, P<0.05). Moreover, baseline OT levels correlated with weight loss and BMI (P<0.005). A linear relationship emerged between the reduction in OT levels (t0-t1) and BMI decline. Baseline OT also correlated directly with t1 plasma ketone bodies, remaining significant after adjustments (P=0.02). Furthermore, the ROC curve highlighted the predictive capacity of baseline OT levels (>1034 pg/ml) for ketosis occurrence at t1, with 100% sensitivity and 60.7% specificity (AUC 0.819, P<0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed the female sex was negatively associated with BUT-GSI, while OT at t0 displayed a positive correlation. OT at t1 indicated a trend but did not achieve statistical significance.

Conclusion: This investigation underscores the complex interplay among psychological parameters, circulating OT levels, and VLCKD-induced weight loss, highlighting baseline OT as a potential predictive marker for diet-induced ketosis and weight reduction in obesity.