title: Relationship of serum adiponectin and leptin concentrations with body fat distribution in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether serum concentrations of adiponectin are determined by body fat distribution and compared the findings with leptin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentrations of adiponectin and leptin were measured by radioimmunoassay (n = 394) and analyzed for correlation with sex, age, and body fat distribution, i.e., waist-to-hip ratio, waist and hip circumference, and subcutaneous adipose tissue area of the lower leg as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for sex and percentage of body fat, adiponectin was negatively (r = -0.17, p < 0.001) and leptin was positively (r = 0.22, p < 0.001) correlated with waist-to-hip ratio. Leptin, but not adiponectin, correlated with both waist (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) and hip circumference (r = 0.46, p < 0.001). Furthermore, leptin, but not adiponectin, correlated with the proportion of subcutaneous fat of the lower leg cross-sectional area (r = 0.37, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that both adipocytokines are associated with central body fat distribution, and serum adiponectin concentrations are determined predominantly by the visceral fat compartment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Pathobiochemistry, Medical Clinic, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Staiger
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tschritter
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Machann
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thamer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fritsche
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maerker
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Häring
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin; D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D001824:Body Constitution; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D014781:Viscera
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins