Serum Leptin Concentrations in Relation to Body Fat,
Gender, Sex Hormones and Metabolic Covariates in
Thaist
BOONSONG ONGPHIPHADHANAKUL, M.D.*,
SUWANNEE CHANPRASERTYOTHIN, M.Sc.*,
LAOR CHAILURKIT, M.Sc.*
RAJATA RAJATANAVIN, M.D.*,
NOPPAWAN PIASEU, M.Sc.*,
Affiliation : * Department of Medicine and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
t Supported by 1997 Ramathibodi Hospital Research Grant.
AbstractIn the present study, the relation of serum leptin to adiposity, gender and metabolic co va-
riates in normal Thais was examined. Subjects consisted of 224 individuals aged between 20 - 79
years. Eighty two were men while 142 were women. Data were expressed as mean ± SEM.
Serum leptin was associated with total body fat assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorp-
tiometry in both men (r = 0.80, P < 0.0001) and women (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001). Compared to women,
serum leptin concentrations was lower in men (P < 0.0001 ). The difference still persisted after con-
trolling the adiposity. Compared to premenopausal women, postmenopausal women had higher
serum leptin independent of adiposity (P < 0.0001). In men, serum free testosterone was negatively
associated with serum leptin (r = -0.36, P < 0.001) while there was no association between serum
estradiol and leptin. The relation between serum Ff and leptin in men no longer persisted after
controlling for adiposity. Body fat was associated with fasting insulin levels in both men (r = 0.26,
P < 0.05) and women (r = 0.18, P < 0.05). However, the association between fasting insulin levels
and body fat in both men and women no longer existed after adjusting for leptin.
We concluded that serum leptin concentrations are associated with total body adiposity
and serum leptin may mediate the effect of body fat on insulin sensitivity. There appears to be a
sexual dimorphism of serum leptin unrelated to sex hormone status and the amount of body fat.
Keywords : Body Fat, Leptin, Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Sensitivity, Obesity
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