Plasma leptin Concentrations in Korean Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Oh, Eun Young; Chung, Yun Jae; Choi, Yoon Ho; Chung, Jae Hoon; Min, Yong Ki; Lee, Myung Shik; Lee, Moon Kyu; Kim, Kwang Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a well-established risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and hyperlipidemia. Leptin, the protein procluct of the ob gene, is increased in obese individuals, suggesting resistance to its effect. We investigated whether the subjects with type 2 diabetes have an altered regulation of serum leptin levels
METHODS
205 Korean type 2 diabetic patients and 174 normal contro1 subjects participated in this study. We evaluated a difference between leptin level of diabetic patients and that of normal controls. In diabetic patients, correlations among plasma leptin concentration and other factors such as serum insulin concentration, percentage body fat, BMI, gender, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting serum glucose level were evaluated.
RESULTS
Fasting plasma leptin concentrations were correlated to BMI, percentage body fat, gender and serum insulin concentration. Plasma leptin concentrations are not significantly different in diabetic subjects compared to controls.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that there was no significant difference in semm leptin level between type 2 diabetic and normal subjects and that body fat, sex, and the fasting insulin level are independently associated with plasma leptin level in type 2 diabetic patients.