Telomere length and adiposity in a racially diverse sample

To evaluate the cross-sectional relationship of anthropometric measures (body mass index (BMI) and visceral fat and the adipokines leptin and adiponectin) with telomere length in a racially diverse sample.

Cross-sectional study of participants recruited from a health science university.

Participants include 317 men and women aged 40-64 years without diagnosed diabetes, cardiovascular disease (defined as coronary heart disease or stroke/transient ischemic attack) or cancer.

Study participants were 54.9% female, 58% non-Hispanic white (NHW) and 42% non-Hispanic Black (NHB). Of the sample, 76% were either overweight or obese. Linear regressions showed no association between the anthropometric measures (BMI (kg m(-2)), visceral fat (cm(2)), adiponectin (microg ml(-1)), leptin (ng ml(-1)) or adiponectin to leptin ratio (microg ng(-1))) assessed in a continuous manner and telomere length assay ratio, either for the whole sample or when stratified by race or by gender.

This study finds no linear associations between telomere length and several measures of obesity in a sample of NHB and NHW men and women. Further studies are needed to identify factors that influence telomere length in diverse populations.