Hormonal levels of leptin, insulin, ghrelin, and neuropeptide Y in lean, overweight, and obese Saudi females.
OBJECTIVE
To studied the relationship that exists between leptin, ghrelin, insulin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), anthropometric, and metabolic variables in Saudi females.


METHODS
The study was conducted at the Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from November 2004 to August 2005. One hundred and twenty-two Saudi females were divided into 3 body mass index (BMI) groups: lean (N=60), overweight (N=17), and obese (N=45). Fasting leptin, ghrelin, insulin, NPY and glucose concentrations were determined.


RESULTS
Leptin levels in overweight and obese groups were significantly higher than those in lean group. Leptin levels showed a positive correlation with BMI in obese (0.81), overweight (0.78), and lean (0.48). In contrast, ghrelin concentration decreased in obese and overweight subjects compared to lean subjects. Ghrelin levels were negatively correlated with BMI in obese (-0.81), overweight (-0.58), and lean subjects (-0.62). Negative correlations were found between serum insulin and ghrelin concentrations in lean and obese subjects. Glucose and insulin levels were significantly higher in the obese group compared to controls. No differences were found in serum NPY between the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Leptin levels increased remarkably with increasing BMI. A leptin resistance state seems to exist in many obese and overweight individuals. Ghrelin concentration was decreased in overweight and obese subjects. These data demonstrate a significant inverse relationship between ghrelin and leptin levels in overweight and obese subjects.
Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Maha H
MH
Daghestani
Pinar T
PT
Ozand
Ahmed R
AR
Al-Himadi
Ali N
AN
Al-Odaib
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D050177:Overweight / Q000502:physiology*; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D036361:Peptide Hormones