Serum levels of omentin are not altered in drug-naive patients with major depression: a pilot study.

Background: Decreased plasma levels of omentin, a relatively novel adipokine, are shown to be associated with metabolic abnormalities and proinflammatory states. Although other adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin have been extensively investigated in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), no studies have evaluated omentin levels in major depression. Therefore, this study sought to test the hypothesis that drug-naive patients with MDD would have lower serum omentin levels than a healthy control group similar in age, sex, and body mass index.

Subjects And Methods: Thirty patients with MDD (10 men) and 30 healthy control subjects (10 men) were studied. Plasma concentration of omentin, along with other biochemical parameters, was measured after a period of fasting. The severity of depression was determined by the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results: No significant difference was found between patients with MDD (723.3±233.8 ng/ml) and healthy comparison subjects (670.7±351.8 ng/ml) in mean plasma concentrations of omentin (p>0.05). There was no significant correlation between plasma omentin levels and depression severity (r=-0.147; p>0.05).

Conclusions: This is the first investigation of omentin levels in patients with MDD. The hypothesis that circulating omentin levels would be different in depressed patients than in healthy controls is not supported by our data.