Related Experiment Videos
The association between leptin and left ventricular hypertrophy: a population-based cross-sectional study
Manel Pladevall1, Keoki Williams, Heidi Guyer
1Center for Health Services Research, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA [corrected] mpladev1@hfhs.org
Journal of Hypertension
|July 23, 2003
Summary
High plasma leptin levels are linked to cardiovascular disease. This study found leptin was inversely associated with left ventricular mass index, not blood pressure, suggesting other mechanisms may explain leptin
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Plasma leptin is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
- Leptin influences sympathetic and vascular functions.
- Potential mechanisms include increased blood pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy, and atherosclerosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if leptin levels, independent of body mass and insulin resistance, are risk factors for hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy.
- To clarify the relationship between leptin and cardiovascular risk markers.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 410 adults in rural Spain.
- Correlations between plasma leptin and left ventricular mass index, wall thickness, and blood pressure.
- Multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Results:
- Leptin inversely associated with left ventricular mass index after adjustment (beta = -0.20, P < 0.01).
- Inverse association with sum of wall thicknesses was not statistically significant (beta = -0.12, P = 0.063).
- No statistical association between leptin and blood pressure after adjusting for body mass index.
Conclusions:
- Study does not support leptin increasing cardiovascular risk via left ventricular mass index or blood pressure.
- Atherosclerosis-related mechanisms may explain cardiovascular disease risk associated with high leptin levels.
- Further research into leptin's role in atherosclerosis is warranted.