[Relation between leptin serun with weight and body fat distribution in postmenopausal women].
Leptin is a peptidic hormone secreted by the fat tissue and plays an important role in body weight regulation. After menopause, weight gain increases as well as android-like obesity. Previous studies suggest a relationship between leptin level, body mass index (BMI) and fat distribution.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the relationships between serum leptin, BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist/hip ratio (WHR).


METHODS
48 women under the age of 60 years and with amenorrhea for longer than one year were assessed. Leptin and estradiol (ELISA) levels were determined; normal values: 3.63-11.09 ng/mL and 0-65 pg/Ml. BMI (WHO), WC > 88 cm, and WHR > 0.80 were considered as indicators of cardiometabolic risk.


RESULTS
Mean age for the group was 54 +/- 3.9 years; leptin: 8.4 +/- 3.7 ng/mL, and estradiol: 17.6 +/- 10.0 pg/mL; BMI: 27.0 +/- 4.9 kg/m(2); WC: 86.2 +/- 8.6 cm; and WHR: 0.84 +/- 0.06. Twenty percent of the women had hyperleptinemia, 58.4% malnourishment due to excessive intake, 35% presented WC cardiovascular risk. The highest leptin value was found in obese women. There was no association between serum leptin levels and anthropometrical variables. There was a significantly positive correlation between weight, height, BMI, WC, hip circumference, and estradiol.


CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal women presented a high prevalence of overweight/obesity, android-like body fat distribution and normal serum leptin levels. The group assessed is considered to be at risk for cardiometabolic diseases according to anthropometrical indicators.
Barrios Ospino
Yubire
Y
Centro de Investigaciones en Nutrición, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Carabobo, Carabobo, Venezuela. ybarrios1@gmail.com
Díaz
N
N
Meertens
L
L
Naddaf
G
G
Solano
L
L
Fernández
M
M
Flores
A
A
González
M
M
D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D020738:Leptin