title: Determinants of serum leptin levels in healthy postmenopausal women.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate factors that influence leptin levels in postmenopausal women. One hundred and forty-four postmenopausal women were evaluated cross-sectionally. In every woman a complete medical history was obtained, body mass index (BMI) was recorded and morning fasting blood was obtained for the determination of serum leptin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, testosterone, delta4androstendione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and insulin. In univariate analysis, age, BMI and insulin were positively correlated with serum leptin, while DHEAS showed a negative association with leptin concentrations (age r=0.21, p=0.005, BMI r=0.41, p=0.0001, insulin r=0.20, p=0.008, DHEAS r=-0.28, p=0.0001). In stepwise multivariate regression analysis serum leptin could be best predicted from BMI, serum insulin and serum DHEAS [leptin= (1.41 * BMI) - (0.01 * DHEAS) + (3.26 * insulin) - 26.3; model r2=0.24, p=0.001]. In conclusion, BMI and serum insulin have a positive while serum DHEAS has a negative impact on serum leptin. Neither endogenous estradiol, nor endogenous testosterone are associated with leptin levels. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of leptin in determining body weight and composition in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece. ilambrinoudaki@hotmail.com
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lambrinoudaki
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Christodoulakos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panoulis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Botsis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Augoulea
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate