title: Leptin, adiponectin, and obesity among Caucasian and Asian women.
abstract: Ethnic differences in adipose tissue distribution may contribute to different chronic disease risks across ethnic groups, and adipokines may mediate the risk. In a cross-sectional study, we examined ethnic differences in adipokines and inflammatory markers as related to body mass index (BMI) among 183 premenopausal women with Caucasian and Asian ancestry. General linear models were used to estimate adjusted mean levels of leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Asian women had significantly lower serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, and CRP than Caucasian participants (P≤.01) across all levels of BMI. Among overweight and obese women, Asians showed a stronger association of CRP with leptin (β=1.34 versus β=0.64) and with adiponectin (β=-0.95 versus β=-0.75) than Caucasians. Compared to Caucasians of similar BMI, Asians may experience a higher chronic disease risk due to lower levels of adiponectin despite their lower levels of leptin.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Cancer Epidemiology Program, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. sconroy@crch.hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.forename: Weiwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Unhee
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Adrian A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Cooney
authors.forename: Gertraud
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maskarinec
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein