Weight gain and ghrelin level after olanzapine monotherapy

Abstract Background The present study aimed to explore the association between weight gain and ghrelin among schizophrenic patients under olanzapine treatment. The relationships among weight gain and adiponectin, fasting glucose, and lipid profile were also investigated. Methods This case–control study recruited 66 schizophrenic patients from the Chung Shan Medical University Hospital in central Taiwan. All of them were undergoing olanzapine monotherapy and were categorized into weight gain (WG) and non-weight gain (NWG) groups. Subjects in the control group (CG) were recruited from a healthy community population based on a health survey (n = 119). Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the association of ghrelin with weight gain. Results The 66 schizophrenic patients had a mean age of 36.3 ± 9.6 years, with 50% females. They received olanzapine treatment for a mean period of 8.3 ± 7.5 years. The control group had a mean age of 38.9 ± 9.3 years and 52.9% were females. Comparing fasting serum ghrelin levels, the WG group had the lowest mean value (822.3 ± 253.1 pg/ml) while the control group had the highest mean value (1261.2 ± 1639.7 pg/ml), with a significant difference between the two ( p  = 0.01). In contrast, there was no difference in adiponectin levels among the three groups. The WG and NWG groups had higher diastolic blood pressure than the control group, but systolic blood pressure was the same in all three groups. There was no difference in the total cholesterol level although the WG and NWG groups had higher triglyceride (TG) and glucose levels than the control group. Conclusions Weight gain after olanzapine treatment is associated with lower ghrelin level. Olanzapine is linked to elevated diastolic pressure, TG, and glucose, regardless of the weight gain.