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Influences of levodopa on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle metabolism in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease

  • Pharmacodynamics
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

The substantial weight loss in Parkinson’s patients may be related to direct influences of levodopa treatment on fat mobilization/oxidation. We assessed systemic and local metabolic responses to levodopa/benserazide in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.

Methods

We studied 10 Parkinson’s disease patients and examined adipose tissue and skeletal muscle metabolism directly with microdialysis. We monitored dialysate concentrations of ethanol, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol to assess tissue blood flow and metabolism before and after levodopa/benserazide intake. We also conducted in vitro studies on adipocytes from healthy women.

Results

Levodopa/benserazide increased serum levodopa, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and norepinephrine (P < 0.01). Serum adipose tissue and skeletal muscle glycerol did not change or decreased. Adipose tissue glycerol was inversely correlated with serum levodopa concentrations (P < 0.05). In isolated adipocytes, levodopa attenuated isoproterenol-induced glycerol release (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Levodopa/benserazide elicits pronounced metabolic changes in both adipose tissue and skeletal muscle with a switch from lipid to carbohydrate metabolism. In adipose tissue, levodopa/benserazide failed to activate lipolysis. Therefore, we suggest that levodopa/benserazide does not induce fat wasting through direct and acute influences on adipose tissue metabolism.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Henning Damm, Katrin Sprengel, and Janin Andres for expert technical assistance and the Department of Surgery at the Vivantes Klinikum Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin for providing us with adipose tissue samples.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental and Clinical Research Center – A Cooperation with Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine, Charité Campus Buch, and HELIOS Klinikum, Berlin, Germany

    Frauke Adams, Michael Boschmann, Gabriele Franke, Marie Charlotte Leisse, Juergen Janke, Simone Gottschalk & Jens Jordan

  2. Department of Neurology, Charité Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany

    Elmar Lobsien, Andreas Kupsch & Axel Lipp

  3. German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany

    Joachim Spranger

  4. Franz-Volhard Clinical Research Center, Charité Campus Buch, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    Frauke Adams

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  1. Frauke Adams
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Correspondence to Frauke Adams.

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Adams, F., Boschmann, M., Lobsien, E. et al. Influences of levodopa on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle metabolism in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 64, 863–870 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-008-0532-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-008-0532-4

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