title: Serum leptin in elderly people: associations with sex hormones, insulin, and adipose tissue volumes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are few data for associations of serum leptin with body fat, fat distribution, sex hormones, or fasting insulin in elderly adults. We hypothesized that the sex difference in serum leptin concentrations would disappear after adjustment for subcutaneous, but not visceral body fat. Serum leptin would not be associated with sex hormone concentrations or serum fasting insulin after adjusting for body fat and fat distribution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) volumes were measured using magnetic resonance imaging in a cross-sectional sample of 56 nondiabetic, elderly men and women aged 64 years to 94 years. Serum leptin, sex hormones (testosterone and estrone), sex hormone-binding globulin, and fasting insulin were also measured. Nine women were taking hormone replacement, and five men were clinically hypogonadal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leptin was significantly associated with both SAT and VAT in each sex. Adjustment for SAT reduced the sex difference in leptin by 56%, but adjustment for VAT increased the difference by 25%. Leptin was not associated with serum estrone or hormone replacement therapy in the women, but had a significant, negative association with testosterone in the men that was independent of SAT, but not VAT. Leptin was significantly associated with fasting insulin in both sexes independent of age, sex hormones, sex hormone-binding globulin, VAT and SAT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sex difference in serum leptin is partly explained by different amounts of SAT. Studies including both men and women should adjust for SAT rather than total body fat that includes VAT. The sex difference in serum leptin is not due to estrogen, but may be partly explained by testosterone. Testosterone is negatively associated with leptin in men, but the association is confounded with VAT. Leptin is associated with fasting insulin in nondiabetic elderly men and women independent of body fat, fat distribution, or sex hormones.
authors: Center for Population Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131, USA. rbaumgartner@salud.unm.edu
authors: R N
authors: RN
authors: Baumgartner
authors: R R
authors: RR
authors: Ross
authors: D L
authors: DL
authors: Waters
authors: W M
authors: WM
authors: Brooks
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Morley
authors: G D
authors: GD
authors: Montoya
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Garry
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001823:Body Composition; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone