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Association between leptin and asthma in adults
A Sood1, E S Ford, C A Camargo
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 701 North First Street, Room D434, P O Box 19636, Springfield, IL 62794-9636, USA. asood2@siumed.edu
Thorax
|March 17, 2006
Summary
High leptin levels are linked to asthma in adult women. This study suggests leptin may play a role in adult asthma, particularly in women, independent of body mass index.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pulmonology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Leptin, a pro-inflammatory cytokine from adipose tissue, is linked to childhood asthma.
- Previous research suggests a potential association between leptin and asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum leptin concentrations and asthma in adults.
- To determine if leptin is associated with asthma in adult populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
- Employed multivariable logistic regression analysis on serum leptin and self-reported asthma diagnoses.
Main Results:
- Adults with current asthma exhibited higher mean leptin concentrations than those without asthma (p=0.02).
- The leptin-asthma association was more pronounced in women, especially premenopausal women.
- Body mass index (BMI) correlated with asthma in women, but this link was not significantly altered by leptin levels.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis that leptin is associated with asthma in adult women.
- Leptin's contribution to the BMI-asthma association in women appears limited.