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Leptin predicts the development of diabetes in Mauritian men, but not women: a population–based study

International Journal of Obesity volume 31, pages 1126–1133 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To determine if levels of the adipocyte-derived hormone, leptin, predict the development of type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

Population-based surveys were undertaken in the multiethnic nation of Mauritius in 1987, 1992 and 1998. Questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and a 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test were included. A cohort of 2330 participants who were free of diabetes, aged 25–79 years in 1987, and who were followed-up in 1992 and 1998 was studied. Serum leptin was measured in baseline samples. Glucose tolerance was classified according to WHO (World Health Organization) 1999 criteria.

Results:

In total, 456 subjects developed diabetes over 11 years with similar incidences in all ethnic groups (P=0.2). Baseline leptin correlated positively with anthropometric measurements, fasting and postload insulin and homeostasis model assessment indices (all P<0.001), and inversely with subsequent weight increase. Participants with incident diabetes had higher serum levels of leptin at baseline than those remaining nondiabetic (P<0.001). After adjustment for confounders, high leptin levels and high leptin/body mass index ratio were independently associated with incident diabetes over 11 years in men (odds ratio for top versus bottom quartile of leptin 2.18; 95% CI: 1.09–4.35), but not in women.

Conclusion:

We conclude that high leptin levels are associated with the future development of diabetes, and the association is independent of other factors in men, but not in women.

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Acknowledgements

This study was undertaken with the support and collaboration of the Ministry of Health (Mauritius), the World Health Organization (Geneva, Switzerland), International Diabetes Institute (Melbourne, Australia), the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (UK), and the National Public Health Institute (Helsinki, Finland). This study was partially funded by US National Institutes of Health Grant DK–25446. We are grateful to Hans Stenlund, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology, Umeå University, Sweden, for assistance in statistical matters. Dr Söderberg is supported by grants from the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation and the Swedish Society of Medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    S Söderberg, P Zimmet & J E Shaw

  2. Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Cardiology, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden

    S Söderberg

  3. Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    J Tuomilehto

  4. Ministry of Health, Port Louis, Mauritius

    P Chitson & H Gareeboo

  5. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College, UK

    K G M M Alberti

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  1. S Söderberg
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Correspondence to S Söderberg.

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Söderberg, S., Zimmet, P., Tuomilehto, J. et al. Leptin predicts the development of diabetes in Mauritian men, but not women: a population–based study. Int J Obes 31, 1126–1133 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803561

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