Background. The aim of our study was to compare serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin and other selected parameters in female patients with restrictive subtype of anorexia nervosa (n= 15), (RMA), binge/purge subtype of anorexia nervosa (n=11) (PMA) with age-matched healthy females, (C, n=14). Methods and Results. RMA patients had the most severely decreased body mass index (BMI) and serum leptin levels of the three groups studied. These parameters were also significantly lower in PMA relative to C group. (BMI: RMA 14.61±0.49 kg/m2, PMA 17.30±0.25 kg/m2, C 23.21±0.96 kg/m2; leptin: RMA 1.39±0.31 ng/ml, PMA 3.72±0.77 ng/ml, C 9.17±1.53 ng/ml). In contrast, serum adiponectin levels were markedly increased in RMA patients (57.28±4.86 ug/ml) relative to other groups (PMA 40,25±2.18 µg/ml, K 26.84±2.40 µg/ml). Serum leptin levels positively correlated with BMI in all groups studied (r= 0.56, p=0.002), while the inverse relationship was found for adiponectin levels and BMI (r=-0.72, p=0.000003). The hormonal concentrations were measured by commercially available RIA and ELISA kits. Conclusions. The most significant changes of serum adiponectin and leptin levels were found in the RMA group with most severely decreased BMI and body fat content relative to rest of the groups. Possible role of increased adiponectin levels in the etiopathogenesis and/or metabolic changes in patients with anorexia nervosa is under the scope of our current investigations.

        Key words: adiponectin, leptin, soluble leptin receptor, body mass index, anorexia nervosa.