Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]
Author:
 		Keyword(s):
Year:  Vol:  Page: 

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Zamboni, M.
Right arrow Articles by Bosello, O.
Right arrow Articles citing this Article
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Zamboni, M.
Right arrow Articles by Bosello, O.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 59:M396-M400 (2004)
© 2004 The Gerontological Society of America

Relation Between Leptin and the Metabolic Syndrome in Elderly Women

Mauro Zamboni1,, Elena Zoico1, Francesco Fantin1, Maria Panagiota Panourgia1, Vincenzo Di Francesco1, Paolo Tosoni1, Bruno Solerte2, Roberto Vettor3 and Ottavio Bosello1

1 Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Verona, Italy.
2 Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy.
3 Terapia Medica, University of Padua, Italy.

Address correspondence to Mauro Zamboni, MD, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Verona, Piazzale Stefani 1, 37126 Verona, Italy. E-mail: mauro.zamboni{at}univr.it

Background. Leptin has been shown to be linked to adiposity and insulin resistance in middle-aged participants. However, the association between leptin and metabolic syndrome independently of body fat and body fat distribution has not been evaluated in healthy elderly people.

Methods. We studied the independent relation between leptin and the components of the metabolic syndrome in 107 women aged 67–78 years with body mass index (BMI) ranging from 18.19 to 36.16 kg/m2. In all participants, we evaluated BMI, waist and hip circumferences, body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, fasting, and 2-hour glucose, lipids, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA), systolic (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and leptin.

Results. Significant correlation was found between leptin, BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, DBP, SBP, cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and HOMA. After adjusting for age and waist circumference, as well for age and fat mass, leptin was significantly related to insulin levels, HOMA, and cholesterol. In a stepwise multiple regression analysis using insulin levels or HOMA as dependent variables and age, waist circumference, fat mass, leptin, SBP, DBP, cholesterol, and triglycerides as independent variables, leptin entered the regression first, waist circumference second, and age third.

Conclusion. Our study shows that leptin is significantly related to indices of adiposity in elderly women, and leptin is significantly associated with insulin levels, HOMA, and cholesterol independent of age, body fat, and fat distribution. Leptin, waist circumference, and age together explained 31% and 33% of insulin levels and HOMA variance, respectively, in healthy elderly women.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2004 by The Gerontological Society of America.