A recent study published in Scientific Reports has investigated the relationship between different types of obesity and hormone levels, specifically serum leptin (LEP) and adiponectin (ADP) levels. The global obesity epidemic has led to an increase in metabolic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. However, not all obese individuals develop these complications, leading researchers to categorize obesity into two groups: metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO).
Previous studies have suggested that individuals with MHO have lower inflammation levels and do not exhibit metabolic abnormalities compared to those with MUO. Additionally, individuals with MHO tend to have lower waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), insulin resistance, blood pressure (BP), and higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Surprisingly, people with MHO also have lower LEP levels but higher ADP levels compared to those with MUO. However, their levels when compared to healthy individuals remain unclear.
LEP and ADP are adipokines secreted by adipose tissue and play essential roles in glucose utilization, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation regulation. Alterations in these hormone levels can lead to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
The present study analyzed data from 178 participants in Xinjiang, China. The participants were divided into three groups: MUO with a BMI greater than or equal to 24 kg/m2 and meeting the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome (MS), MHO with a BMI greater than or equal to 24 kg/m2 and meeting none or only one MS criteria (excluding WC), and a healthy control group (HC) with a BMI between 18.5 and 24 kg/m2.
The study found that individuals with MUO had higher fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance compared to those with MHO. Additionally, the MUO group showed elevated fasting plasma glucose levels, indicating a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Blood pressure levels and BMI were also different between the two groups, with an increased BMI correlating with a higher risk of hypertension.
ADP, as a marker for MS, showed an inverse correlation with WC, visceral fat, blood pressure, blood lipids, plasma glucose, and insulin levels in the MHO group. In contrast, LEP levels exhibited a positive correlation with WC, waist-hip ratio, BMI, and fat mass. Interestingly, the correlation between BMI and LEP was independent of obesity phenotypes.
The study concluded that individuals with MUO had higher levels of various parameters related to metabolic health compared to those with MHO. This suggests that individuals with MUO are more susceptible to developing glucose and lipid metabolism-related disorders. Despite similar ADP and LEP levels between individuals with MHO and MUO, these hormones still correlated with glucose utilization and lipid metabolism-related parameters in both obesity phenotypes.
The findings of this study highlight the importance of further research into the association between hormone levels and obesity phenotypes. Understanding the role of LEP and ADP in metabolic health could potentially lead to new strategies for managing obesity-related metabolic disorders.
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- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
- We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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