Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

We measured plasma leptin and insulin concentrations across a spectrum of obesity in 829 white Caucasian, 154 Afro-Caribbean, and 204 Asian type 2 diabetic subjects. Although the leptin concentrations covered a large range, there were no subgroups of diabetic subjects with very high or low leptin levels that would suggest mutations in the leptin gene or leptin receptor gene comparable to the obese diabetic ob/ob and db/db mice models respectively. In all three ethnic groups, leptin concentrations correlated with body mass index (BMI) in a similar manner to nondiabetic patients and were higher in females than males after adjustment for BMI, with no difference between ethnic groups. In a multivariate regression analysis, plasma leptin was associated with gender and BMI, (both P < 1 x 10(-17)) and with fasting plasma insulin concentrations (P = 5 x 10(-9)). Subjects treated with insulin had both raised insulin and leptin concentrations. When matched for different therapies, gender, and BMI, diabetic subjects with high leptin levels also had high insulin levels (P < 0.0009). High leptin concentrations may in part be influenced by hyperinsulinemia or impaired insulin sensitivity.

Original publication

DOI

10.1210/jcem.82.2.3744

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Clin Endocrinol Metab

Publication Date

02/1997

Volume

82

Pages

654 - 657

Keywords

Aged, Blacks, Body Mass Index, Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Fasting, Female, Humans, Insulin, Leptin, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Osmolar Concentration, Proteins, Sex Characteristics, Whites