Relationship between hedonic hunger and serum levels of insulin, leptin and BDNF in the Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity has led the scientific community to investigate the cause of this multifactorial metabolic disorder. Highly palatable foods can stimulate hedonic hunger and could be a cause of obesity. In the present study, for the first time, the relationships between insulin, leptin and BDNF levels and hedonic hunger were investigated. Ninety overweight and obese women were studied. The demographic characteristics and anthropometric indices were measured and the power of food scale (PFS) questionnaire was used to assess hedonic hunger. In addition, the serum levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, leptin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were determined. Regression analysis was used to predict hedonic hunger using age, body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP) as covariates. The levels of insulin and leptin were found to be significantly correlated with the PFS total score and the scores of PFS-FA (food available), PFS-FP (food present), and PFS-FT (food taste). The BDNF level showed a significant negative correlation only with PFS-FT. Multiple regression analysis showed statistically significant associations between hedonic hunger and levels of insulin [β coefficient: 1.29 (SE: 0.32), p < .001], leptin [β coefficient: 0.2 (SE: 0.09), p = .023] and BDNF [β coefficient: -6.29 (SE: 2.81), p = .028]. These three values were found to be predictors of hedonic hunger. The findings provide further evidence in favor of the role of these hormones in hedonic hunger.