Leptin concentration and the Zn/Cu ratio in plasma in women with thyroid disorder

We investigated the possible correlation between the leptin concentration a nd the Zn/Cu ratio in the plasma of women with thyroid disorder. Forty wome n with hypothyroidism (n = 20) or hypothyroidism (n = 20) and 20 euthyroid controls were recruited. The results showed that the women with thyroid dis order (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) had higher plasma leptin concentr ations than the normal controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, the plasma leptin con centration had no correlation with plasma thyroid hormone levels in the sep arate groups, nor among all the participants considered together. A strong correlation (p < 0.005) between leptin and adiposity was only observed in e uthyroid women. Plasma values of Zn and Cu and the Zn/Cu ratio were not mar kedly different among women with altered thyroid status. However, a weak co rrelation (r = 0.28, p = 0.032) between leptin and the Zn/Cu ratio was foun d from the pooled data of all participants and retained after adjustment fo r adiposity. We suggest that there may exist an interaction between the pla sma leptin level and thyroid hormone-induced abnormality for selected miner als.