This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nagy, T. R. Articles by Goran, M. I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nagy, T. R. Articles by Goran, M. I.

Effects of Gender, Ethnicity, Body Composition, and Fat Distribution on Serum Leptin Concentrations in Children¹

Energy Metabolism Research Unit, Departments of Nutrition Sciences (T.R.N., B.A.G., C.A.T., C.D., M.I.G.) and Health Services Administration (R.M.S), School of Health-Related Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Tim R. Nagy, Ph.D., Department of Nutrition Sciences, Energy Metabolism Research Unit, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-3360. E-mail: tnagy{at}uab.edu

The Ob protein leptin has been shown to be closely correlated with measures of body fat in humans and animals. Studies have suggested that there are both gender and ethnic differences in serum leptin concentrations, even after controlling for total and relative body fat and body mass index. We hypothesized that gender and ethnic differences in serum leptin concentrations are due to differences in both body composition and body fat distribution. We measured fasting serum leptin concentration, body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), and body fat distribution (intraabdominal and sc abdominal adipose tissue by computed tomography) in 74 prepubertal boys and girls (43 African-Americans and 31 Caucasians). Our results showed that gender differences in serum leptin concentrations could not be fully explained by differences in body mass index, total fat mass, or relative body composition. However, when serum leptin concentrations were adjusted for differences in relative body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass) and body fat distribution (sc and intraabdominal adipose tissue), gender no longer had an independent effect on the serum leptin concentration. Serum leptin concentrations were not influenced by ethnicity. Thus, when comparing group differences in serum leptin concentrations, it is necessary to adequately control for group differences in body composition and fat distribution.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Zhang, X. Liu, W. J. Brickman, K. K. Christoffel, D. Zimmerman, H.-J. Tsai, G. Wang, B. Wang, Z. Li, G. Tang, et al. Association of Plasma Leptin Concentrations with Adiposity Measurements in Rural Chinese Adolescents J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2009; 94(9): 3497 - 3504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. A Venner, P. K Doyle-Baker, M. E Lyon, and T. S Fung A meta-analysis of leptin reference ranges in the healthy paediatric prepubertal population Ann Clin Biochem, January 1, 2009; 46(1): 65 - 72. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Kayemba-Kay's, M. P P Geary, J. Pringle, C. H Rodeck, J. C P Kingdom, and P. C Hindmarsh Gender, smoking during pregnancy and gestational age influence cord leptin concentrations in newborn infants Eur. J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2008; 159(3): 217 - 224. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Hibbert, L. L. Hsu, S. J. Bhathena, I. Irune, B. Sarfo, M. S. Creary, B. E. Gee, A. I. Mohamed, I. D. Buchanan, A. Al-Mahmoud, et al. Proinflammatory Cytokines and the Hypermetabolism of Children with Sickle Cell Disease Experimental Biology and Medicine, January 1, 2005; 230(1): 68 - 74. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Munoz and B. A. Gower Relationship between Serum Leptin Concentration and Low-Density Muscle in Postmenopausal Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2003; 88(3): 1157 - 1161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Arfai, P. D. Pitukcheewanont, M. I. Goran, C. J. Tavare, L. Heller, and V. Gilsanz Bone, Muscle, and Fat: Sex-related Differences in Prepubertal Children Radiology, August 1, 2002; 224(2): 338 - 344. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Marzullo, C. Buckway, K. L. Pratt, A. Colao, J. Guevara-Aguirre, and R. G. Rosenfeld Leptin Concentrations in GH Deficiency: The Effect of GH Insensitivity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2002; 87(2): 540 - 545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. I. Goran and B. A. Gower Longitudinal Study on Pubertal Insulin Resistance Diabetes, November 1, 2001; 50(11): 2444 - 2450. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Harrell, P. Bomar, R. McMurray, C. Bradley, and S. Deng Leptin and Obesity in Mother-Child Pairs Biol Res Nurs, October 1, 2001; 3(2): 55 - 64. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K G Tantisira and S T Weiss Complex interactions in complex traits: obesity and asthma Thorax, September 1, 2001; 56(90002): ii64 - 74. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Ghizzoni, G. Mastorakos, M. Ziveri, M. Furlini, A. Solazzi, A. Vottero, and S. Bernasconi Interactions of Leptin and Thyrotropin 24-Hour Secretory Profiles in Short Normal Children J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2001; 86(5): 2065 - 2072. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. I Goran Metabolic precursors and effects of obesity in children: a decade of progress, 1990-1999 Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2001; 73(2): 158 - 171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Lonnerdal and P. J Havel Serum leptin concentrations in infants: effects of diet, sex, and adiposity Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2000; 72(2): 484 - 489. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. HORLICK, M. ROSENBAUM, M. NICOLSON, L. S. LEVINE, B. FEDUN, J. WANG, R. N. PIERSON Jr., and R. L. LEIBEL Effect of Puberty on the Relationship between Circulating Leptin and Body Composition J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2000; 85(7): 2509 - 2518. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. A. Gower, T. R. Nagy, M. I. Goran, A. Smith, and E. Kent Leptin in Postmenopausal Women: Influence of Hormone Therapy, Insulin, and Fat Distribution J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2000; 85(5): 1770 - 1775. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. Fors, H. Matsuoka, I. Bosaeus, S. Rosberg, K. A. Wikland, and R. Bjarnason Serum Leptin Levels Correlate with Growth Hormone Secretion and Body Fat in Children J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1999; 84(10): 3586 - 3590. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Rosenbaum and R. L. Leibel Role of Gonadal Steroids in the Sexual Dimorphisms in Body Composition and Circulating Concentrations of Leptin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 1999; 84(6): 1784 - 1789. [Full Text]

				M. Miyakawa, T. Tsushima, H. Murakami, O. Isozaki, H. Demura, and T. Tanaka Effect of Growth Hormone (GH) on Serum Concentrations of Leptin: Study in Patients with Acromegaly and GH Deficiency J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1998; 83(10): 3476 - 3479. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				W. W. Wong, M. Nicolson, J. E. Stuff, N. F. Butte, K. J. Ellis, A. C. Hergenroeder, R. B. Hill, and E. O. Smith Serum Leptin Concentrations in Caucasian and African-American Girls J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1998; 83(10): 3574 - 3577. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. N. Roemmich, P. A. Clark, S. S. Berr, V. Mai, C. S. Mantzoros, J. S. Flier, A. Weltman, and A. D. Rogol Gender differences in leptin levels during puberty are related to the subcutaneous fat depot and sex steroids Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, September 1, 1998; 275(3): E543 - E551. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Palmert, S. Radovick, and P. A. Boepple Leptin Levels in Children with Central Precocious Puberty J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 1998; 83(7): 2260 - 2265. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. A. Llopis, M. L. Granada, G. Cuatrecasas, X. Formiguera, L. Sánchez-Planell, A. SanmartÍ, A. Alastrué, M. Rull, A. Corominas, and M. Foz Growth Hormone-Binding Protein Directly Depends on Serum Leptin Levels in Adults with Different Nutritional Status J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 1998; 83(6): 2006 - 2011. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. R. Palmert, S. Radovick, and P. A. Boepple The Impact of Reversible Gonadal Sex Steroid Suppression on Serum Leptin Concentrations in Children with Central Precocious Puberty J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 1998; 83(4): 1091 - 1096. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. R. Nagy, B. A. Gower, R. M. Shewchuk, and M. I. Goran Serum Leptin and Energy Expenditure in Children J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 1997; 82(12): 4149 - 4153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]