Is leptin concentration associated with the insulin resistance syndrome innondiabetic men?

Objective: Insulin resistance has been strongly associated with cardiovascu lar risk. Recently, leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite, has been ass ociated with both obesity and insulin resistance. However, the possible rel ation of leptin to the insulin resistance syndrome has been controversial. Research Methods and Procedures: To explore this issue, we examined the rel ation of leptin to blood pressure, lipid levels, low density lipoprotein (L DL) size, and glucose levels in 87 normoglycemic men. Results: Leptin levels were significantly correlated with body mass index ( BMI) (r=0.494), fasting insulin (r=0.576), whole-body glucose disposal rate (GDR) (r=-0.566), fasting glucose (r=0.510), total triglycerides (r=0.294) , apolipoprotein B (r=0.223), systolic blood pressure (r=0.223), and LDL si ze (r=-0.244). After adjustment for BMI and GDR, leptin levels remained sig nificantly correlated with fasting insulin, fasting glucose, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, and systolic blood pressure. Leptin levels were also corr elated with the number of metabolic risk factors (dyslipidemia, systolic bl ood pressure, and fasting glucose). Discussion: We conclude that leptin concentrations may be associated with s everal cardiovascular risk; factors related to insulin resistance syndrome. These associations are only pal-try explained by leptin's relationship wit h BMI and GDR.