title: Elevated adiponectin but varied response in circulating leptin levels to falciparum malaria in type 2 diabetics and non-diabetic controls.
abstract: To investigate effects of falciparum malaria on circulating levels of leptin and adiponectin in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-diabetic controls in relation to measures of adiposity.
  
  
  
  Levels of leptin and adiponectin were measured in 100 type 2 diabetics and 100 age-matched controls before and during falciparum malaria in a 2-year prospective study. Also, waist circumference (WC), weight, height and hip circumference were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were computed.
  
  
  
  At baseline, diabetics had significantly (p < 0.05) higher WC and BMI but lower WHR, leptin and adiponectin levels. Baseline leptin correlated positively with WC (r = 0.633; p < 0.001) and BMI (r = 0.63; p < 0.001) in diabetics but only BMI (0.562; p < 0.001) in non-diabetic controls. Baseline leptin and adiponectin correlated positively (r = 0.249; p = 0.029) in non-diabetic respondents only. Adiponectin correlated negatively with WC (r = -0.58; p = 0.006) in diabetic males only. During malaria, mean levels of leptin and adiponectin were comparable (p > 0.05) between diabetics and controls. However, compared to baseline levels, significant (p < 0.001) elevation of adiponectin was found in both study groups. In respect of leptin, significant (p < 0.001) rise but decline was observed in diabetics and controls respectively. Malaria-induced leptin correlated negatively with adiponectin (r = -0.694; p < 0.001) in non-diabetic controls only.
  
  
  
  Diabetics and controls exhibited increased adiponectin levels due to falciparum malaria but differed in response in terms of leptin levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. Electronic address: s.acquah@uccsms.edu.gh.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acquah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Benjamin Ackon
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Eghan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Johnson Nyarko
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Boampong
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin; D008288:Malaria; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D020738:Leptin
keywords: Adiponectin; BMI; Falciparum malaria; Leptin; T2DM