[Serum leptin level and its association with bone mineral density in obese children].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate serum leptin level and its relationship with bone mineral density in obese children from Changsha City.


METHODS
One hundred and nineteen obese children and 103 normal children aged 7 to 12 years from five primary schools of Changsha City were enrolled. Obesity was assessed based on the body mass index (BMI). Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to determine bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition. Serum leptin level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The obesity group had higher height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio (WHR) compared with the normal group (p<0.01). BMD, bone mineral content (BMC), lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), percentage of body fat (%BF) and leptin concentration in the obesity group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (p<0.01). Serum leptin level was positively correlated with BMD, BMC, LM and FM (r=0.528-0.903, p<0.01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that BMI and %BF were independent influencing factors for serum leptin level.


CONCLUSIONS
Obese children have higher serum leptin level. Serum leptin concentration is significantly correlated with BMD and body composition. BMI and %BF are independent influencing factors for serum leptin level in children.
Liu
Sai-Qin
SQ
Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Wu
Jing
J
Mo
Juan
J
Sun
Zhi-Xiang
ZX
Yang
Hao-Bo
HB
Huang
Chao-Wen
CW
Lei
Min-Xiang
MX
Peng
Lie-Wu
LW
Xu
Li
L
D001823:Body Composition; D015519:Bone Density; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D020738:Leptin