The relationship between obesity, leptin, adiponectin and the components of metabolic syndrome in urban African women, Free State, South Africa

Abstract

Objectives: Obesity prevalence is increasing worldwide. In South Africa, older and urbanised African women have significantly higher rates of obesity. Limited information is available on the relationship between anthropometric parameters, adipokines and metabolic health status of African women. This study investigated the relationship between obesity, adipokines and the components of metabolic syndrome in urban African women. Methods: This study included 135 urban African women that were 26-63 years of age, identified with metabolic syndrome in the urban leg of the Assuring Health for All in the Free State (AHA-FS) study. To establish anthropometric status, the following measures were taken: body weight, height and waist circumference. Blood was drawn to determine leptin, adiponectin levels and metabolic status. Results: Adiponectin levels in obese women were significantly decreased compared to normal weight women. Leptin levels and leptin:adiponectin ratios (L:A) were increased in the obese group compared to the overweight and normal weight groups. Leptin and L:A showed strong positive correlations with body mass index and waist circumference. Adiponectin levels decreased as the number of components of metabolic syndrome increased. The L:A ratio was significantly lower in women with elevated triglycerides and significantly higher in women with elevated blood glucose levels. Adiponectin levels were significantly lower in women with elevated blood glucose. Conclusion: This study confirms the inverse relationship between adiponectin and leptin with increased body adiposity. Results indicate that waist circumference, fasting blood glucose and triglyceride levels are the metabolic syndrome components most closely associated with altered adiponectin and leptin levels and L:A in urban African women with metabolic syndrome.Normal weight kg/m 2 ) (n = 17)* Age 50.0 [47.0-52.0] Adiponectin (μg/mL) 14.4 [9.3-19.1] Leptin (ng/mL) 9.1 [5.7-14.1] L:A ratio # 0.7 [0.5-1.3] Overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m 2 ) (n = 35) Age 45.0 [37.0-54.0] Adiponectin (μg/mL) 9.2 [5.0-13.2] Leptin (ng/mL) 22.0 [12.3-31.7] L:A ratio 2.2 [1.4-5.4] Obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) (n = 83) Age 48.0 [41.0-56.0] Adiponectin (μg/mL) 6.4 [4.1-10.2] Leptin (ng/mL) 44.1 [31.8-75.7] L:A ratio 7.9 [3.6-11.9]

Association of the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio with metabolic syndrome in a sub-Saharan African population

“…Nevertheless, contrary to them, no significant correlation was found between glucose levels and LAR. Zyl et al [ 29 ] found similar results in their study on South African urban women, although LAR was significantly higher in women with elevated blood glucose. This finding seems to be specific to Africans.…”

The effect of Omega-3 fatty acid on Adiponectin and potential implication for obesity management

“…It has been reported that decreased circulatory levels of adiponectin in obesity (despite being produced in adipose tissue) are inversely correlated with body fat percentage in adults 17 . Our study was in agreement with the results of Van Zyl et al, (2017) 18 and Fruhbeck et al, (2018) 19 whom found that the serum level of Adiponectin was significantly lower in obese patients.…”

Obesity as an Inflammatory Agent Can Cause Cellular Changes in Human Milk due to the Actions of the Adipokines Leptin and Adiponectin

“…From the literature, it is already known that the ratio between leptin and adiponectin is an important parameter that can be used to indicate the risk of developing obesity and even metabolic syndrome [19,20].…”

“…Adiponectin and leptin are mainly secreted by the adipose tissue and inhibit feeding by different mechanisms, acting on their respective receptors (AdipoRs and LepRs) located in neurons in the hypothalamus [18]. These adipokines levels are important indicators for the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome, since there is a reduction in the endogenous concentrations of adiponectin and an increase in leptin levels in overweight and obese individuals [19,20].…”