Puberty and Gender Differences of Plasma Leptin, Adiponectin Levels, and Leptin/Adiponectin Ratio

Yoo, Eun Gyong; Nam, Hee Young; Kim, Duk Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE: Leptin and adiponectin levels show gender differences in adults, both of which are higher in women. We aimed to describe the gender differences in leptin and adiponectin levels according to pubertal development, and relationships of leptin, adiponectin, and leptin/adiponectin ratio (L/A) with sex steroids.
METHODS
Seventy-seven healthy children (36 boys and 41 girls) were enrolled, and were divided into prepuberty, early puberty (Tanner stage 2 or 3), and late puberty (Tanner stage 4 or 5). Fasting plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin, testosterone, estradiol, and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured.
RESULTS
1) There was no gender difference in leptin and adiponectin in prepuberty. In early puberty, leptin was higher in girls, and in late puberty, both leptin and adiponectin were higher in girls than in boys. The L/A did not show any gender difference in our participants. 2) Leptin correlated with percent weight for height (%WFH) in both genders, and also with Tanner stage, estradiol, and FAI in girls. Adiponectin correlated inversely with %WFH, Tanner stage and FAI in boys. The L/A showed positive relationships with %WFH, Tanner stage and free androgen index (FAI) in both genders, and also with estradiol in girls. 3) In multiple regressions, age, %WFH, estradiol, and FAI were independently related to Ln (leptin) (R2=0.603). FAI was independently related with Ln (adiponectin) (R2=0.063), and the %WFH and estradiol with Ln (L/A) (R2=0.434).
CONCLUSION
Gender differences of leptin and adiponectin become apparent with the progression of puberty. Estrogen is independently related to leptin levels, and androgen is related to both leptin and adiponectin.