LEPTIN LEVELS IN NONOBESE AND OBESE CHILDREN AND YOUNG-ADULTS WITH TYPE-1 DIABETES-MELLITUS

Objective: To evaluate serum leptin levels in children and young adult s with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and to investigate whether they are different in prepuberty, puberty and young adulthood . Design: Three groups of diabetics (prepubertal, pubertal and young a dults) subdivided into obese and non-obese were studied, Three groups of healthy subjects matched for sex, age and body mass index served as controls. Results: Diabetic patients had serum leptin concentrations similar to those of controls in all three groups. A small non-signific ant increase in leptin from the prepubertal to the young adult age gro up for both diabetics and controls was found. A significant associatio n of serum leptin level with body mass index (P < 0.001), female sex ( P < 0.001) and age (P < 0.01) in both the diabetic and control group w as present. Insulin-dependent diabetes was not associated with higher leptin concentration. Conclusions: Serum leptin concentrations are sim ilar in diabetic patients and healthy controls. The association betwee n obesity and leptin concentration was similar in the diabetic and non -diabetic subjects, Type 1 diabetes mellitus does not modify serum lep tin concentration.