Serum leptin concentration, obesity, and insulin resistance in Western Samoans: cross sectional study

Full text for this resource is not available from the Research Repository.

Zimmet, Paul, Hodge, Allison, Nicolson, Margery, Staten, Myrlene, de Courten, Maximilian, Moore, Jason, Morawiecki, Andrew, Lubina, John, Collier, Greg R, Alberti, K. G. M. M and Dowse, Gary (1996) Serum leptin concentration, obesity, and insulin resistance in Western Samoans: cross sectional study. BMJ, 313 (7063). pp. 965-969. ISSN 0959-8138 (print) 1756-1833 (online)

Abstract

Objective: To measure serum leptin concentrations in the Polynesian population of Western Samoa and to examine epidemiological associations of leptin with anthropometric, demographic, behavioural, and metabolic factors in this population with a high prevalence of obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Design: Cross sectional study, leptin concentration being measured in a subgroup of a population based sample. Subjects: 240 Polynesian men and women aged 28–74 years were selected to cover the full range of age, body mass index, and glucose tolerance. Main outcome measurements: Serum leptin, insulin, and glucose concentrations; anthropometric measures; physical activity; and area of residence. Results: Leptin concentrations were correlated with body mass index (r = 0.80 in men, 0.79 in women) and waist circumference (r = 0.82 in men, 0.78 in women) but less so with waist to hip ratio. At any body mass index, leptin concentration was higher in women than men (geometric mean adjusted for body mass index 15.3 v 3.6 pg/1, P<0.001). Leptin concentration also correlated with fasting insulin concentration (r = 0.63 in men, 0.64 in women) and insulin concentration 2 hours after a glucose load (r = 0.58 in men, 0.52 in women). These associations remained significant after controlling for body mass index; effects of physical activity and of rural or urban living on leptin concentration were eliminated after adjusting for obesity, except values remained high in urban men. 78% of variance in leptin was explained by a model including fasting insulin concentration, sex, body mass index, and a body mass index by sex interaction term. Similar results were obtained if waist circumference replaced body mass index. Conclusions: The strong relation of leptin with obesity is consistent with leptin production being proportional to mass of adipose tissue. The relation with insulin independent of body mass index suggests a possible role for leptin in insulin resistance or hyperinsulinaemia.

Dimensions Badge

Altmetric Badge

Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/25516
DOI 10.1136/bmj.313.7063.965
Official URL http://www.bmj.com/content/313/7063/965
Subjects Historical > FOR Classification > 1103 Clinical Sciences
Current > Division/Research > College of Health and Biomedicine
Keywords insulin, glucose concentrations, anthropometric measures, physical activity, hyperinsulinaemia
Citations in Scopus 220 - View on Scopus
Download/View statistics View download statistics for this item

Search Google Scholar

Repository staff login