High plasma leptin predicts an increase in subcutaneous adiposity in children and adults.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hypothesis that plasma leptin may predict adiposity changes.


METHODS
A population-based cohort study.


METHODS
Fleurbaix and Laventie, in the north of France.


METHODS
In all, 1175 subjects participated, of whom 946 completed measurements at baseline (1999) and follow-up (2001). After excluding 64 subjects obese at baseline, 882 subjects (478 adults, 404 children 8 years and over) were included in the analysis.


METHODS
We measured plasma leptin concentrations at baseline and various adiposity parameters at baseline and follow-up. Partial correlation coefficients (r(p)) between baseline plasma leptin and each adiposity indicator at follow-up were calculated with adjustment for baseline age, pubertal stage, adiposity and familial correlations between siblings.


RESULTS
Changes in body mass index and percentage body fat were not related to baseline plasma leptin. High baseline plasma leptin predicted an increase (r(p) (P-value)) in the sum of the four skinfolds (0.18 (<0.0001)), the waist circumference (0.16 (0.0003)) and the waist-to-hip ratio (0.29 (<0.0001)) in adults only, and in the hip circumference in adults (0.20 (<0.0001)) and children (0.22 (<0.0001)). After adjustment for a set of four adiposity variables at baseline (percentage body fat, skinfolds, waist and hip circumferences), baseline plasma leptin predicted only changes in the sum of the four skinfolds in adults (0.15 (0.001)), with similar tendency although not significant in children (0.08 (0.13)).


CONCLUSIONS
A high leptin relative to baseline fat mass predicts fat mass gain over time, mainly in the subcutaneous location.
Kettaneh
A
A
INSERM U 780, IFR 69, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France.
Heude
B
B
Romon
M
M
Oppert
J M
JM
Borys
J M
JM
Balkau
B
B
Ducimetière
P
P
Charles
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D015430:Weight Gain
D020738:Leptin