SERUM LEPTIN AS A MARKER FOR INSULIN RESISTANCE IN NON-DIABETIC YOUNG ARAB FEMALES IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Abstract

ABSTRACTChange in lifestyle increased the prevalence of obesity, which is associated with high serum leptin (SL) concentrationand insulin resistance (IR). IR may be present, many years before the appearance of diabetes mellitus. The aim is toinvestigate the relationship between SL and IR in non-diabetic young female. Eighty students (aged 18-30 years)were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Fasting SL, serum insulin, blood glucose, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol,and triglycerides were measured in addition to anthropometric measurements and blood pressure. IR, Body MassIndex (BMI), Waist-hip ratio (WHR) and Waist-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. The mean BMI was 26.7±6.0kg/m2, mean fasting SL was 30.1 ± 15.4 mg/ml and serum HDL-cholesterol was 59.2 ± 12.2 mg/dl. BMI correlateddirectly with fasting SL (P<0.01), fasting insulin (P<0.01) and IR (P<0.01). IR was best predicted by Fasting SL(value± SE: 0.343±0.007, P<0.01) with which it had a strong positive correlation (P<0.01). There was a positivecorrelation between fasting SL and WHtR (P<0.01) but not with WHR. In addition IR correlated positively withsystolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.292, P<0.01 and r = 0.298, P< 0.01 respectively). There is a significantassociation between fasting SL and IR in non-diabetic young females that depends on body fatness and itsparameters. Early preventive measures and treatment of those with IR could prevent progression to DM.