Altered lipid profile, leptin, insulin, and anthropometry in offspring of South Asian immigrants in the United States

South Asians who immigrate to the United States have a propensity toward in sulin resistance, central obesity, and elevated total cholesterol:high-dens ity lipoprotein (HDL) ratio. To evaluate whether these alterations are appa rent at a younger age, we studied 32 offspring of South Asian immigrants an d compared them with 29 of European descent between 18 to 30 years of age. American-born South Asian males had significantly higher total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (TC:LDL) ratios, triglycerides, and fasting insuli n levels (13.9 +/- 7.1 and 10.0 +/- 5.5 muU/mL, P < .01) than their Europea n counterparts. The South Asian females only had increased plasma insulin l evels (15.3 +/- 8.8 and 10.0 +/- 5.1 muU/mL, P = .05). The entire South Asi an group had higher truncal skinfold thickness (40.1 +/- 18.1 and 30.3 +/- 12.6 mm, P = < .05) and lower insulin-like growth factor binding protein (I GFBP)-1 levels (46.8 +/- 33.4 and 56.0 +/- 33.4 mug/L, P = .05). Plasma lep tin levels were also significantly higher in both males (4.3 +/- 2.5 v 2.8 +/- 1.3 ng/mL, P = .0001) and females (20.5 +/- 10.3 v 10.3 +/- 6.3 ng/mL, P = .002) South Asian subjects. A significant correlation between plasma le ptin and insulin, triglycerides, TC, and body mass index (BMI) was seen in the South Asian males. South Asians born in the United States show evidence for an altered metabolic profile in young adulthood. The relative contribu tions of inheritance and nutritional practices early in life to this altera tion remain unclear. Copyright (C) 2001 by WB. Saunders Company.