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Relationships between bone mass and circulating leptin concentrations in Hutterites.

Karen S Wosje¹, Teresa L Binkley, Heidi J Kalkwarf

¹Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA.

|June 15, 2004

Summary

Hutterites have higher bone density than non-Hutterites, but leptin levels did not predict bone mineral content in this group. Genetic factors may influence both bone density and leptin signaling.

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Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Bone Biology
Human Genetics

Background:

Previous studies suggest an inverse relationship between bone mass and circulating leptin.
Hutterites exhibit elevated bone density, but the association with leptin is unknown.
Mouse studies imply Hutterites may have leptin deficiency or signaling issues.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between bone mineral content (BMC) and circulating leptin in Hutterites.
To compare leptin concentrations and BMC between Hutterites and non-Hutterites.
To test if Hutterites have lower leptin for a given body fat and if leptin predicts BMC in Hutterites.

Main Methods:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured whole body and regional BMC.
Circulating leptin levels were measured in 249 Hutterites and 72 non-Hutterites.

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Backward stepwise regression analyzed predictors of BMC, including leptin, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

Hutterites demonstrated significantly higher BMC than non-Hutterites across all skeletal sites.
Hutterite females and males exhibited higher leptin concentrations than their non-Hutterite counterparts, adjusted for fat mass.
Leptin concentration was not a significant predictor of BMC in Hutterites of either sex after covariate adjustment.

Conclusions:

Elevated Hutterite bone density is not explained by circulating leptin levels.
Genetic factors affecting hypothalamic leptin signaling, independent of adipocyte leptin production, may contribute to increased bone density in Hutterites.