Leptin is Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction in Healthy Obese Premenopausal Women

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have demonstrated that adipokines can have positive and/or negative effects on vascular function. In this study, we attempted to characterize the association of adipokines with endothelium-dependent vasodilation in healthy premenopausal women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Noninvasive pulse wave analysis coupled with provocative pharmacological testing with salbutamol was used to measure endothelium-dependent vasodilation in 60 healthy premenopausal women [37 obese women; body mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg/m2, 23 age-matched non-obese women; BMI<25 kg/m2]. The lipid profile, fasting insulin, glucose, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in each patient were assessed via standard laboratory techniques, and plasma concentrations of various adipokines, such as adiponectin, leptin, resistin and TNF-alpha, were measured via enzyme immunoassays. RESULTS: In the obese group, higher leptin concentrations were significantly associated with impairments in endothelium-dependent vasodilation (r=-0.371, p=0.005). This association remained significant, even after adjustment for other risk factors (beta=-0.39, p=0.006). However, we determined that there was no significant correlation between endothelium-dependent vasodilation and these variables in the obese group and the control group. CONSLUSION Increased plasma concentration of leptin was associated with impairment in endothelial function in obese premenopausal women, regardless of the metabolic and inflammatory disturbances associated with obesity.