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Higher leptin is associated with hypertension: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 27, pages 617–622 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Adipokines are secreted from adipose tissue, influence energy homeostasis and may contribute to the association between obesity and hypertension. Among 1897 participants enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, we examined associations between blood pressure and leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), resistin and total adiponectin. The mean age and body mass index (BMI) was 64.7 years and 28.1, respectively, and 50% were female. After adjustment for risk factors, a 1-s.d.-increment higher leptin level was significantly associated with higher systolic (5.0 mm Hg), diastolic (1.9), mean arterial (2.8) and pulse pressures (3.6), as well as a 34% higher odds for being hypertensive (P<0.01 for all). These associations were not materially different when the other adipokines, as well as BMI, waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio, were additionally added to the model. Notably, the associations between leptin and hypertension were stronger in men, but were not different by race/ethnic group, BMI or smoking status. Adiponectin, resistin and TNFα were not independently associated with blood pressure or hypertension. Higher serum leptin, but not adiponectin, resistin or TNFα, is associated with higher levels of all measures of blood pressure, as well as a higher odds of hypertension, independent of risk factors, anthropometric measures and other selected adipokines.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant (R01-HL-088451) and contracts N01-HC-95159 through N01-HC-95169 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. We thank the other investigators, the staff and the participants of the MESA study for their valuable contributions. A full list of investigators and institutions participating in MESA can be found at http://www.mesa-nhlbi.org.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    M A Allison, J H Ix, C Morgan, D Rifkin & M H Criqui

  2. Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA

    M A Allison, J H Ix & D Rifkin

  3. Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    R L McClelland

  4. Department of Medicine, Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    D Shimbo

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  1. M A Allison
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Correspondence to M A Allison.

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Allison, M., Ix, J., Morgan, C. et al. Higher leptin is associated with hypertension: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. J Hum Hypertens 27, 617–622 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2013.24

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