Leptin production in pre- and postmenopausal women

Objectives: To investigate the differences in leptin production between pre- and postmenopausal women. Methods: Subjects were 75 pre- and 75 postmenopausal women. Age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI, wt/ht(2)) were recorded. Serum leptin levels were measured by RIA. Total body fat mass and percentage of body fat mass were measured by whole-body scanning with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum leptin levels, the ratio of serum leptin levels to total body fat mass (leptin-fat mass ratio), baseline characteristics, and anthropometric variables were compared between the two groups. In all subjects (n = 150), relationship of serum leptin levels with menopausal status (pre- and postmenopause) was investigated by univariate and multiple regression analysis. Results: Serum leptin levels in premenopausal women 8.4 +/- 4.8 ng/ml, which did not differ from that in postmenopausal women (9.2 +/- 7.1 ng/ml). Total body fat mass, percentage of body fat mass, and BMI did not differ between the two groups. Leptin-fat mass ratio in premenopausal women was 0.43 +/- 0.17 ng/ml/kg, which did not differ from that in postmenopausal women (0.44 +/- 0.24 ng/ml/kg). On both univariate and multiple regression analysis, serum leptin levels were not correlated with menopausal status. Conclusions: Menopausal status does not have a significant impact. on leptin production. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.