SERUM LEPTIN CONCENTRATION AND INSULIN SENSITIVITY IN MEN WITH ABDOMINAL OBESITY

Objective: We have examined the association between generalized adipos ity, abdominal adiposity, insulin sensitivity, and serum levels of lep tin in a cross-sectional study of abdominally obese men. Research Meth ods and Procedures: Thirty men, 48 to 66 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) of between 25 kg/m(2) and 35 kg/m(2) and a waist hip rati o of >0.95, were included in the study. Serum leptin concentration was measured using radioimmunoassay. Total body fat percentage was determ ined from total body potassium, abdominal adiposity was measured by co mputed tomography, and the glucose disposal rate (GDR) was measured du ring an euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp. Results: Significa nt correlations were found between serum leptin concentration and BMI, percentage body fat, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, serum ins ulin, GDR, and 24-hour urinary-free cortisol. In a multiple regression analysis, it was shown that abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, GD R, and BMI explained 72% of the variability of serum leptin concentrat ion. GDR demonstrated an independent inverse correlation with serum le ptin concentration. Discussion: In abdominally obese men with insulin resistance, it was demonstrated that most of the individual variabilit y in serum leptin concentration was explained by the amount of subcuta neous abdominal adipose tissue, insulin sensitivity, and BMI.