ABSTRACT
To investigate plasma leptin concentrations in postmenopausal women to improve the understanding of the role of leptin in determining bone mass. A prospective observational cross-sectional study. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rheumatology and Chemical Pathology at Kasr El-Aini Hospital, Cairo University. Thirty postmenopausal women with osteoporosis [ages range 45-73 years and body mass index [BM1] range 23.31-39.37Kg/m[2]], and 30 age- and BMI-matched healthy postmenopausal women. Bone mineral densities were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry [DEXA]. Plasma leptin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELIZA]. The correlation of plasma leptin concentrations and bone mineral density [BMD]. Plasma leptin concentrations were significantly higher in the osteoporotic group than the control group [67.44 +/- 48.60 Vs. 38.10 +/- 19.58, p=0.004]. No correlation was observed between plasma leptin and BMD values in the osteoporotic group [r=0.2462, p=0.198; r=0.3452, p=0.067 and r=0.1898, p=0.324 for T score spine, Rt. hip and Lt. hip, respectively] and the control group [r=0.0050, p=0.980; r=0.2564, p=0.188 and r=-0.0967, p=0.624 for T score spine, Rt. hip and Lt. hip, respectively], but there was a significant positive correlation between plasma leptin and BMI in the osteoporotic group [r=0.4911, p=0.007] and the control group [r=0.8205, p<0.001]. Circulating plasma leptin does not have a significant direct influence on bone mass in postmenopausal women