M. Sato et al., Association between serum leptin concentrations and bone mineral density, and biochemical markers of bone turnover in adult men, J CLIN END, 86(11), 2001, pp. 5273-5276
Leptin, the product of the ob gene, has been shown to inhibit bone formatio
n in mice. We addressed whether leptin has any role in the regulation of bo
ne mineral density (BMD) in humans. Subjects were 221 adult men with a mean
( so) age and body mass index of 52.1 +/- 8.7 yr and 23.6 +/- 2.8 kg/m(2).
Serum leptin, carboxyterminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (PICP; a ma
rker of bone formation), and cross-linked carboxyterminal teleopeptide of t
ype 1 collagen (a marker of bone resorption) were measured by RIA. BMD was
assessed by single photon absorptiometry; and total fat mass was determined
by bioimpedance analysis. BMD was inversely associated with serum leptin c
oncentrations and total fat mass after adjustment for body weight. PICP, bu
t not cross-linked carboxyterminal teleopeptide of type 1 collagen, was inv
ersely correlated with serum leptin. These results may suggest that an incr
ease in serum leptin reduces bone formation and decreases BMD in adult men.
Leptin may be a regulator of BMD in humans.