J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  2004 Aug;19(4):379-392.

Relationship between Serum Leptin, Adiponectin, Resistin and Ghrelin Levels, and Bone Mineral Density in Men

• Oh KW
• Yun EJ
• Rhee EJ
• Lee WY
• Baek KH
• Yoon KH
• Kang MI
• Park CY
• Ihm SH
• Choi MG
• Yoo HJ
• Park SW

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fat mass is an important determinant of bone mineral density (BMD), but the mechanism involved in this relationship is uncertain. Several lines of evidence have suggested the effects of fat mass on BMD may be mediated by hormonal factors, with the principal candidates being serum sex hormones, insulin, leptin and adiponectin. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the serum adipocytokine and ghrelin levels, and BMD in men.
METHODS
Eighty men, aged 42~70 (mean age, 54.5 yr), were selected as the study subjects. The serum concentrations of leptin and ghrelin were measured with RIA, the adiponectin with ELISA and the resistin with EIA. The serum concentrations of estradiol, total testosterone and the biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured by standard methods. The BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.
RESULTS
The serum leptin level was found to correlate to the BMI, waist to hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, serum fasting insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride and calcium levels. Although the serum leptin level was not significantly correlated to the serum estradiol level, it did show a weak trend. The serum adiponectin level were correlated to the BMI, WHR and serum fasting insulin level; and the resistin to serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels; ghrelin to age, WHR and serum triglyceride levels. A significant negative correlation was observed between the serum resistin level and lumbar spine BMD. Also, there was a significant negative correlation between the serum leptin level and lumbar spine BMD. The above correlations were observed only when the BMI and the serum estradiol and insulin levels were included as independent variables in the regression analysis model. The serum adiponectin level was not significantly correlated with the BMD, either in the presence or absence of the BMI and serum insulin level.
CONCLUSION
The serum adipocytokine level was observed to be partly associated with the BMD in men. Therefore, these data suggest that leptin and resistin may play roles in the bone mineral metabolism in men. Further studies are needed to larify this relationship

MeSH Terms

Absorptiometry, Photon
Adiponectin*
Biomarkers
Blood Glucose
Blood Pressure
Bone Density*
Calcium
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, LDL
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Estradiol
Fasting
Femur Neck
Ghrelin*
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Humans
Insulin
Leptin*
Male
Metabolism
Resistin*
Spine
Testosterone
Triglycerides
Waist-Hip Ratio
Adiponectin
Blood Glucose
Calcium
Cholesterol
Cholesterol, LDL
Estradiol
Ghrelin
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Insulin
Leptin
Resistin
Testosterone