J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  2003 Apr;18(2):177-183.

Association between Serum Leptin Concentration and Bone Mineral Density in Healthy Korean Women

• Rhee Y
• Kim DJ
• Kim SH
• Ahn CW
• Cha BS
• Kim KR
• Lee HC
• Lim SK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Leptin is known to affect bone metabolism both centrally and peripherally. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between leptin and bone mineral density(BMD) in healthy premenopausal and postmenopausal Korean women.
METHODS
140 women were recruited for a routine health check-up. Anthro-pometric and biochemical data were checked as usual. BMDs were measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry of the spine and femur in 67 premenopausal women and 73 postmenopausal women, in addition to their serum leptin levels.
RESULTS
Serum leptin level showed no correlation with BMD in premenopausal women, but there was a positive correlation betwen serum leptin and spinal BMD in postmenopausal women(r=0.468, p<0.001). After the correcting for age, body mass index, and duration of menopause, the serum leptin level and BMD still showed a positive correlation(r=0.217, p=0.088) although weak. The women in the lowest quartile of serum leptin level showed significantly lower lumbar and femoral neck BMD.
CONCLUSION
Leptin level seems to have a weak relationship with BMD showing different features in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

MeSH Terms

Absorptiometry, Photon
Body Mass Index
Bone Density*
Female
Femur
Femur Neck
Humans
Leptin*
Menopause
Metabolism
Spine
Leptin