Serum leptin concentration in women: effect of age, obesity, and estrogen administration.
OBJECTIVE
To compare serum leptin levels in normally cycling reproductive females (20-35 years old) with those in age-matched males, in women who were receiving oral contraceptives, and in older (postmenopausal) women (50-65 years old) who were or who were not receiving hormone replacement therapy.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center-Amarillo, or the Exercise Physiology Laboratory at Southeastern Louisiana University.


METHODS
Normally cycling women between the ages of 20-35 years and age-matched controls who were receiving oral contraceptives. Postmenopausal women between the ages of 50-65 years who were or who were not receiving hormone replacement therapy.


METHODS
Serum leptin concentration.


RESULTS
In all groups, serum leptin concentrations were correlated significantly with body mass index. Leptin levels were significantly higher in young women than young men (P <.001), but no other statistically significant differences were found for the other three comparisons.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum leptin concentrations expressed as a measure of adiposity (body mass index) are greater in young normally cycling females (20-35 years old) than in age-matched males. There is no difference in levels of serum leptin between young and postmenopausal (50-65 years old) women. Estrogen administration, either in young women who are receiving estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives or in postmenopausal women who are receiving hormone replacement therapy, does not effect serum leptin concentrations.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo 79106, USA. debbie@cortex.ama.ttuhsc.edu
V D
VD
Castracane
R R
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Kraemer
M A
MA
Franken
G R
GR
Kraemer
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T
Gimpel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins