Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Experimental Approach to Examine Leptin Signaling in the Carotid Bodies and its Effects on Control of Breathing
Published on: October 25, 2019
Leptin and incident cardiovascular disease: the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
Seth S Martin1, Michael J Blaha1, Evan D Muse2
1Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Insights
Serum leptin levels do not predict future cardiovascular disease events in a diverse US population. This study found no significant association between leptin and the risk of heart disease or stroke.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Previous studies suggest a link between higher serum leptin and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, primarily in Caucasian men.
- Leptin, a hormone produced by adipose tissue, plays a role in energy balance and metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baseline serum leptin levels and the risk of future cardiovascular events in a diverse cohort.
- To determine if leptin is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in a multi-ethnic population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a prospective cohort study of US adults.
- Serum leptin levels measured in 1905 participants; incident hard cardiovascular disease events (coronary heart disease and stroke) tracked over a median follow-up of 7.6 years.
- Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models used to assess the association between log-transformed leptin levels and CVD risk, controlling for age, ethnicity, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant association was found between serum leptin levels and the risk of hard cardiovascular disease events in women, men, or pooled sexes after adjusting for confounders.
- Hazard ratios for a 1-standard deviation increase in leptin were not significant in age- and ethnicity-adjusted models, nor after further adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Serum leptin levels are not associated with an increased risk of incident cardiovascular events in a modern, multi-ethnic US population.
- These findings suggest leptin may not be a useful biomarker for predicting future cardiovascular disease in diverse populations.
Objective:
Higher serum leptin levels have been associated with a modestly higher incidence of cardiovascular disease in studies involving mostly Caucasian men. We aimed to assess the hypothesis that higher baseline levels of serum leptin are associated with higher risk of future cardiovascular disease in a diverse cohort.
Methods:
The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) is a modern, community-based, ethnically-diverse, and sex-balanced prospective cohort study of US adults free from cardiovascular disease. Serum leptin was measured in an ancillary study in 2002-2005. This analysis included 1905 MESA participants with baseline leptin and incident cardiovascular event data. Leptin levels were modeled as a log-transformed continuous variable and multivariable-adjusted Cox regression was performed for the primary outcome of hard cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease and stroke.
Results:
The median follow-up was 7.6 years (25th-75th 7.1-8.3) with 7051 and 6738 person-years of follow-up in women and men. A hard cardiovascular disease event occurred in 47 women and 63 men. The age- and ethnicity-adjusted hazard ratio estimates for a 1 standard deviation increase in ln(leptin) were 1.16 in women (95% CI 0.78-1.73, p = 0.46) and 0.91 (95% CI 0.69-1.20, p = 0.51) in men. Pooling sexes, and adjusting for sex in addition to age and ethnicity, estimates were 0.98 (95% CI 0.78-1.23, p = 0.89). With additional adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, the results remained nonsignificant: 0.87 (95% CI 0.68-1.11, p = 0.26).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, in a modern, US prospective cohort study of multi-ethnic women and men of multi-ethnic backgrounds, leptin levels are not associated with incident cardiovascular events.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:25Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...
01:27Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management
01:20Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents