Abstract

JIMENEZ, Maria Cristina. Serum levels of leptin and insulin in obese and non obese subjects. An. Fac. Cienc. Méd. (Asunción) [online]. 2005, vol.38, n.1-2, pp.55-62. ISSN 1816-8949.

Considering that leptin and insulin are associated to obesity and the high prevalence of obesity in Paraguay, that was 32% in 1994, this transversal study was performed in order to determine the relationship between insulin and leptin levels in a Paraguayan population. A total of 58 subjects, 31 women and 27 men were included. They were members of the health and administrative staff of the Hospital de Clinicas of the Faculty of Medicine of Asuncion, Paraguay. Samples were collected from July to November 2000 and the subjects were distributed in obese and non-obese groups according to the body mass index (BMI). The results showed a relationship between abdominal obesity and leptin-resistance and hyperinsulinemia, components of the metabolic syndrome. The serum levels of leptin and insulin were significantly much higher in the obese population than in the nonobese one. The average value of leptin in the non-obese group was 12.6 ± 7.15 ng/mL while in the obese group was de 35.8 ± 22,6 ng/mL. In relation to insulin, the values were 10.2 ± 2.7 mUI/l and 23.2 ± 11.3 mUI/l in the non-obese and obese groups respectively. These results are the first measurement of leptin in a sample of the Paraguayan adult population and Hill serve as reference in healthy non-obese adults and, at the same time, will allow to increase the knowledge about the role of these two hormones involved in the weighable metabolic response.

Keywords : Leptin; insulin; insulin-resistance; leptin-resistance; obesity.

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