Leptin-to-adiponectin ratio as independent predictor of insulin sensitivity during growth in overweight Hispanic youth

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation Vol. 30; no. 7; pp. RC13 - RC16
• Main Authors: Koebnick, C, Shaibi, G Q, Kelly, L A, Roberts, C K, Lane, C J, Toledo-Corral, C, Davis, J N, Byrd-Williams, C, Weigensberg, M J, Goran, M I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Adiponectin - analysis; Adolescent; Body Mass Index; Child; Diagnostic Techniques, Endocrine; Female; Glucose Tolerance Test; Growth - physiology; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Leptin - analysis; Male; Overweight; Prognosis; Sex Characteristics
• ISSN: 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03346344

Because leptin and adiponectin are counter-regulated in vivo and exert opposing effects on glucose metabolism, fat oxidation and insulin sensitivity, the ratio of leptin-to-adiponectin has been investigated as a potential atherogenic index, suggesting that the index is a better biomarker for atherosclerotic risk in obese Type 2 diabetic patients than either leptin or adiponectin alone. However, no information is available regarding the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio during adolescence in Hispanic adolescents. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio during growth and to establish whether the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio is a better predictor for insulin sensitivity compared to leptin and adiponectin alone in a regression model. From the age of 8 to 14, the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio increased from 2.0+/-0.8 to 5.8+/-2.2 in girls, with no significant change noted in boys (gender x age interaction p=0.007). In a multiple regression analysis, including both adiponectin and leptin as independent variables, leptin and adiponectin explained 5% of the variation in insulin sensitivity independent of gender, age, Tanner stage, total fat mass and lean body mass (p for R2-change <0.001). The leptin-to-adiponectin ratio also explained 5% of the variation in insulin sensitivity, after controlling for the same covariates (p for R2-change <0.001). These data indicate that the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio is not a better predictor of insulin sensitivity during growth than the additive effects of leptin and adiponectin levels.