Plasma sex hormones are significantly associated with plasma leptin concentration in healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
In humans a sexual dimorphism of plasma leptin concentration has been demonstrated but its significance remains to be established. Sex hormones may have a role.


METHODS
Eighty healthy, non-obese subjects (41M/39F) were studied.


METHODS
In the whole group of subjects plasma sex hormones, leptin and insulin concentrations were determined, body fat content assessed by bioimpedance analysis, body fat distribution evaluated and insulin-mediated glucose uptake measured by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age, gender, amount of body fat, waist/hip ratio (WHR) and fasting plasma insulin concentration, fasting plasma leptin was still significantly correlated with plasma DHEAS (r = -0.30, P < 0.006), oestradiol (r = 0.53, P < 0.001) and testosterone (r = -0.43, P < 0.001) in all subjects (n = 80). Independently of age, amount of body fat and WHR, fasting plasma leptin concentration correlated with plasma oestradiol (r = 0.38, P < 0.01) and total testosterone (r = -0.58, P < 0.001) in males (n = 41) and with fasting plasma oestradiol (r = 0.48, P < 0.002) in females (n = 39). To investigate the independent contribution of anthropometric and hormonal variables to fasting plasma leptin concentration, a multivariate stepwise regression analysis with fasting plasma leptin concentration as dependent variable was made. In the entire group (n = 80), the whole model explained 43% of fasting plasma leptin concentration with fasting plasma insulin, total testosterone and oestradiol concentrations significantly and independently associated with plasma leptin concentration. In this model, fasting plasma DHEAS, testosterone and oestradiol explained 25% of the variability in plasma leptin concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates that plasma sex hormone concentrations are associated with plasma leptin concentration.
Paolisso
G
G
Department of Geriatric Medicine and Metabolic diseases, University of Naples, Italy. gpaoliss@tin.it
Rizzo
M R
MR
Mone
C M
CM
Tagliamonte
M R
MR
Gambardella
A
A
Riondino
M
M
Carella
C
C
Varricchio
M
M
D'Onofrio
F
F
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001824:Body Constitution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate