Research

Hormonal

In men with obesity and metabolic syndrome, a 12-week weight reduction program significantly decreases the postprandial brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) increment, with a 6% weight loss threshold predicting a negative BDNF index (postprandial levels lower than fasting).

For men with obesity and metabolic syndrome, losing just 6% of body weight over 12 weeks via a moderate caloric deficit and exercise can significantly normalize the body's post-meal hormonal response (BDNF). This suggests that even modest weight loss can reverse specific metabolic dysregulations related to energy homeostasis, potentially reducing cardiovascular risks associated with high postprandial BDNF.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
After weight reduction (from 97.0 ± 12.5 kg to 88.6 ± 12.9 kg, P < 0.001), the percentage change of body weight was significantly associated with the BDNF AUC index after the study (95% CI between 0.21 and 1.82, P = 0.015). Using 6% weight reduction as a cut-off value, a larger weight reduction was able to reliably predict a negative BDNF AUC index.
I‐Te Lee et al. · Medicine · 2016

Why this rating

Prospective study with a control group, but small sample size (n=36 obese, n=25 controls) and lack of long-term follow-up.

Source

Relationship between body weight and the increment in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor after oral glucose challenge in men with obesity and metabolic syndrome

I‐Te Lee et al. · Medicine · 2016

DOI 10.1097/md.0000000000005260

cohort · n=61Cited 39×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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