Evidence mapPaperPMID 41939193Full record

ArticleFrontiers in nutrition2026

Leptin/Adiponectin Ratio as a new multidimensional biomarker in obese patients with liver steatosis undergoing VLEKT: results from a pilot study.

Francesco Balestra, Rossella Donghia, Maria De Luca, Dolores Stabile, Sergio Coletta, Giorgia Panzetta, Rita Palieri, Martina Di Chito, Giovanni De Pergola, Gianluigi Giannelli and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Francesco Balestra *Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Rossella Donghia *Data Science Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Maria De LucaLaboratory of Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Dolores StabileCore Facility Biobank, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Sergio ColettaCore Facility Biobank, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Giorgia PanzettaLaboratory of Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Rita PalieriLaboratory of Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Martina Di ChitoCenter of Nutrition for the Research and the Care of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "Saverio de Bellis", Bari, Italy.
Giovanni De PergolaCenter of Nutrition for the Research and the Care of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "Saverio de Bellis", Bari, Italy.
Gianluigi GiannelliScientific Direction of National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "De Bellis", Bari, Italy.
Pasqua Letizia Pesole *Core Facility Biobank, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.
Maria Principia Scavo *Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The Very-Low Energy-Ketogenic Therapy: (VLEKT) is an effective therapy for obesity and metabolic dysfunction, but the factors driving variability in the treatment response remain unclear. HOMA is a well-established marker of insulin sensitivity during dietary interventions, whereas the Leptin/Adiponectin Ratio (LAR) appears as a novel indicator of adipose tissue inflammation and endocrine remodeling. Methods: Thirty-seven adults with obesity completed an 8-week VLEKT. Anthropometry, body composition, liver status (FibroScan®), serum biochemistry, circulating adipokine and fibrogenic markers (leptin, adiponectin, resistin, chemerin, visfatin, RBP4, SHBG, FGF21, PAI-1, and follistatin) were assessed at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1). LAR or HOMA associations with anthropometric, hepatic, renal, and inflammatory parameters were analyzed using Spearman correlations. Results: VLEKT produced significant reductions in body weight, BMI, fat mass, fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA, triglycerides, LDL, CAP, and liver stiffness. LAR decreased markedly, indicating improved adipose endocrine-inflammatory balance, while chemerin and RBP4 also declined significantly. Baseline HOMA predicted dyslipidaemia and hepatic steatosis at T1, and longitudinal changes in HOMA correlated with improvements in BMI, lipid profile, fat mass, and GGT. LAR demonstrated broader systemic associations: higher baseline LAR was linked to lower fat-free mass and impaired renal markers, whereas its reduction correlated with improved steatosis, creatinine, uric acid, and calcium homeostasis. Discussion: VLEKT induced substantial metabolic and inflammatory remodeling. LAR emerged as a multidimensional biomarker reflecting adipose tissue inflammation, hepatic adaptation, and renal homeostasis, while HOMA primarily captured changes related to insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and hepatic status. Their complementary profiles support combined use for personalized monitoring of VLEKT response and early identification of metabolic improvement.

Indexed as

HOMALARliver fibrosisobese patientsVLCKDVLEKT

Identifiers

PMID41939193
PMCPMC13046500

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.