Objectives: Many researchers have found that plasma leptin concentration is associated with insulin levels in non-diabetic subjects. However, the relationship between leptin concentrations and insulin levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients has rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate that relationship. Methods: Fasting plasma glucose, fasting serum insulin (FSI), leptin concentration and body mass index (BMI) were measured in 100 type 2 DM subjects (50males and 50 females). Results: There were no significant differences in age, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, FSI and HbAlc between male and female subjects. The mean leptin concentration of the female subjects was significantly higher than that of the male subjects (7.75 ± 6.41 vs 3.72 ± 3.70ng/mL, ρ< 0.01). Using Pearson correlation analysis, leptin concentration positively correlated with BMI (γ=0574, ρ< 0.001) and FSI levels (γ= 0.498, ρ< 0.001) in the male subjects. It also positively correlated with BMI (γ= 0.605, ρ< 0.001) and FSI levels (γ= 0.543, ρ< 0.001) but inversely correlated with age (γ = -0.399, P = 0.004) in the female subjects. After adjusting for age, BMI, and insulin modifying medications, FSI was significantly and positively related to leptin concentration (β= 0.180, ρ=0.031) in the male subjects but not in the female subjects (β= 0.131, ρ= 0.089). BMI also positively correlated with leptin concentrations in both genders after considering the effects of FSI and other covariates. Conclusions: Leptin concentration significantly correlated with FSI levels in men with type 2diabetes but not in women with type 2 diabetes. The difference between the two groups may be due to age, gender effect, or other potential confounders. Further investigation is necessary.
Objectives: Many researchers have found that plasma leptin concentration is associated with insulin levels in non-diabetic subjects. However, the relationship between leptin concentrations and insulin levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients has rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate that relationship. Methods: Fasting plasma glucose, fasting serum insulin (FSI), leptin concentration and body mass index (BMI) were measured in 100 type 2 DM subjects (50males and 50 females). Results: There were no significant differences in age, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, FSI and HbAlc between male and female subjects. The mean leptin concentration of the female subjects was significantly higher than that of the male subjects (7.75 ± 6.41 vs 3.72 ± 3.70ng/mL, ρ< 0.01). Using Pearson correlation analysis, leptin concentration positively correlated with BMI (γ=0574, ρ< 0.001) and FSI levels (γ= 0.498, ρ< 0.001) in the male subjects. It also positively correlated with BMI (γ= 0.605, ρ< 0.001) and FSI levels (γ= 0.543, ρ< 0.001) but inversely correlated with age (γ = -0.399, P = 0.004) in the female subjects. After adjusting for age, BMI, and insulin modifying medications, FSI was significantly and positively related to leptin concentration (β= 0.180, ρ=0.031) in the male subjects but not in the female subjects (β= 0.131, ρ= 0.089). BMI also positively correlated with leptin concentrations in both genders after considering the effects of FSI and other covariates. Conclusions: Leptin concentration significantly correlated with FSI levels in men with type 2diabetes but not in women with type 2 diabetes. The difference between the two groups may be due to age, gender effect, or other potential confounders. Further investigation is necessary.