A lot of renal patients complain about poor appetite and abdominal distension. Some patients may ask: “is it caused by too many toxins inside my body?” and some patients may ask: “Is it due to the side effects of medication?” In fact, both of these understandings are one-sided. Loss of appetite is also closely associated with leptin.

What is leptin?

Leptin, very few people have heard of it, is a hormone-like protein secreted mainly by fat cells, and it is the protein product of obesity gene and has specific expression in adipose tissue. Leptin has obvious effect on appetite inhibition, and can also regulate immune function, promote the growth of epithelial cells and new blood vessels, promote fetal development, and regulate reproductive function.

For people who lose weight, leptin is undoubtedly a treasure, which can increase leptin level to reduce weight. However, for kidney patients with chronic poor appetite and malnutrition, it is urgent to reduce leptin levels so as to improve appetite.

Why leptin level can cause poor appetite?

-Too much accumulation of leptin. Leptin is mainly eliminated by the kidney. The lower the glomerular filtration rate, the more leptin accumulates, and the poorer the corresponding nutrition.

-For hemodialysis patients, normal hemodialysis has little effect on reducing leptin levels, and leptin levels can only be removed by high flux hemodialysis. Therefore, dialysis mode and dialysis duration are the factors that influence leptin level.

-Insulin, steroid and norepinephrine can promote adipose tissue to synthesize and secrete hormones.

-The sex of the patient affects leptin concentration. Women have higher leptin levels than men, so women are more likely to have poor appetite.

What harm does leptin level have to kidney?

-It can raise blood pressure.

-It can also significantly increase the excretion of urinary protein.

-Leptin contributes to the deposition of extracellular matrix, leading to glomerular sclerosis. Therefore, the incidence of glomerular sclerosis in obese patients is increasing, which may be related to leptin.

-Leptin may also promote the production of extracellular matrix in Diabetic Nephropathy.

-Leptin levels are high, leading to type 2 diabetes and hyperinsulinemia.

How to reduce leptin levels of renal patients and raise appetite?

Leptin level increases with the degree of renal failure, and appetite loss and malnutrition also increase accordingly. It is also a common problem in kidney patients at present, and its morbidity and mortality are also increasing. Therefore, if you want to have a good appetite and improve nutrition, on the one hand, EPO can be used to treat renal anemia, which can help elevate hemoglobin level and decrease leptin level. One the other hand, you should take aggressive treatment to improve renal function, and then leptin can be passed out of body by kidneys.

Now you know the causes of poor appetite for CKD patients. If you would like to know more information on the treatment, please leave a message below or contact online doctor.