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A US study has had promising results presribing leptin, a failed weight loss drug, for young women with 'hypothalamic amenorrhea' - loss of periods due to the absence of hormone signals from the brain to the ovaries. It tends to occur in women who've been dieting and exercising. A common problem, especially in younger, otherwise healthy women is the loss of their periods. And sometimes it's a while before they return. A US study has had promising results from a failed weight loss drug. The condition's called 'hypothalamic amenorrhea' which is medical terminology for losing periods because hormone signals from the brain to the ovaries, telling them to produce eggs, aren't happening. The usual story is a woman who's been dieting and exercising and runs down her energy stores. Some years ago researchers found a hormone from fat cells called leptin, which made fat mice thin. Unfortunately it didn't make fat people thin. Leptin's real role seems to be telling the brain how much energy we're storing. Too little and you shouldn't become pregnant because you might not sustain a baby. And many women with hypothalamic amenorrhea have low leptin levels. This study gave leptin to a small group of women who hadn't had periods for up to 14 years. It restored periods in about half the group, even though some lost even more weight. It needs much larger studies to be sure and to check if it's safe, but there may be a use for leptin after all.
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