Association between leptin gene polymorphisms and hematological metabolic parameters in obese Saudi adults

Obesity represents a major global public health challenge. However, among the Middle Eastern countries and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A) has been particularly affected, with prevalence rates exceeding 24.7%. The impact of obesity on hematological parameters has been previously established; nevertheless, the relationship between genetic variants and obesity-related hematological changes in the Saudi population remains unexplored.

This study aimed to investigate the hematological and metabolic profiles of obese and non-obese Saudi subjects while determining potential associations between LEP single-nucleotide variants in the exon 1 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) and exon 2-3 coding regions.

In the current study, we examined 202 Saudi adults (102 obese, 100 non-obese). Comprehensive hematological profiling was performed alongside genetic analysis of the leptin gene (LEP) through DNA sequencing of the exon 1 5'-UTR and exon 2-3 coding regions.

Obese subjects demonstrated significant alterations in hematological parameters compared to controls, including elevated white blood cell, platelet counts and decreased red blood cell counts. Red blood cell indices were significantly reduced in the obese group, including hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean corpuscular volume. These changes showed progressive alterations across obesity classes. Genetic analysis identified two LEP variants: NM_00230.2:c.-39G > A, which demonstrated significant association with obesity risk (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.02-6.01, p = 0.04) and higher white blood cell counts, and c.280G > A, found exclusively in obese subjects (3.9%).

This study reveals significant obesity-associated hematological alterations in the Saudi population, with progressive changes across obesity classes. The identification of LEP variants associated with obesity risk and altered white blood cell counts suggests potential genetic influences on obesity-related hematological changes in this population.