title: Serum leptin is associated with cardiometabolic risk and predicts metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leptin is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, few studies have assessed its relationship with metabolic syndrome, especially in an Asian population. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess leptin levels and evaluate its association with CVD and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2009, 957 subjects, who underwent a routine physical examination and choose leptin examination, were selected to participate. Participants (269 females and 688 males) were stratified according to leptin level quartiles. Metabolic syndrome was defined by NCEP ATP III using waist circumference cutoffs modified for Asian populations, and CVD risk was determined using the Framingham Heart Study profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leptin levels were correlated with CVD risk in men and women. With the exception of fasting plasma glucose, increased leptin levels were observed as factors associated with metabolic syndrome increased in both males and females. After adjusting for age, an association between leptin levels and metabolic syndrome was observed. After adjusting for age alone or with tobacco use, subjects in the highest leptin quartile had a higher risk of having metabolic syndrome than those in the lowest quartile (OR=6.14 and 2.94 for men and women, respectively). After further adjustment for BMI, metabolic syndrome risk remained significantly increased with increasing leptin quartiles in men. Finally, increased leptin levels were a predictor of metabolic syndrome in men and women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum leptin levels are correlated with CVD risk and metabolic syndrome. Analysis of leptin as part of routine physical examinations may prove beneficial for early diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupation Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, No, 222, Maijin Rd,, Keelung, Taiwan. 620313@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Wen-Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kuang-Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: I-Chuan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Che
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shih-Hao
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kuan-Han
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin