Relation of serum leptin levels to lipid profile in healthy children

The association of leptin with body fat concentration is well established. There is also experimental evidence of a direct effect of leptin on lipid m etabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether leptin levels are related to the corresponding serum lipid levels independently of body fat m ass. The study population consisted of 294 phenotypically healthy school ch ildren aged 6 to 12 years. Age, sex, body weight, height, Tanner stage, and triceps skinfold thickness were recorded for all participating subjects. A blood sample was drawn in the morning after a 12-hour fast, and serum tota l, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; triglyceride; and leptin levels were determined. Multiple regression analy sis showed that triglyceride values were positively correlated with the ln( log(e))-transformed leptin levels (beta =.01, P <.001), whereas HDL levels were inversely associated with Inleptin values (<beta> = -.06, P =.05) afte r controlling for age, sex, Tanner stage, and body mass index when each of the lipid parameters was tested separately in the regression model. However , the introduction of both triglycerides and HDL values in the same model e liminated the significance of association of HDL with Inleptin, and the pos itive relationship of triglycerides with Inleptin remained significant. Our results indicate that triglycerides are independently associated with lept in levels after controlling for any known confounder. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.