Leptin and Bone Mineral Density in Healthy Postmenopausal Iranian Women: A Populationbased Study

Obesity is associated with both higher obone mineral density (bmd) andplasma leptin concentration. inconsistent data are available about the relationship of leptin concentration and bmd, and the aim of this study was to explore the relationship of plasma leptin concentration with bmdas well as bone-related markers in healthy postmenopausal iranian women.materials and methods: two-hundred and ninety-six postmenopausal women from a population- based study on prevalence of osteoporosisin shiraz participated in this study. the bmd was determined at the lumbar spine (ll-l4) and neck of femur by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.blood samples were taken in the fasting state for plasma leptin, serum parathyroid hormone, creatinin, calcium, albumin, phosphorusand alkaline phosphatase evaluations.results: the mean age of the participants was 60.75±7.46 years and the mean body mass index (bmi) was 27.51±5.3 k&,m2. mean leptin concentration was 18.12±9.08 ng/ml, one-hundred andforty-two (48%) individuals were osteoporotic, with mean plasma leptin concentration being significantly lower in these individuals(p<0.0001). bmos at both the lumbar spine (r=0.25; p<0.0001) and the neck of femur (r=0.29; p<0.0001) had significant positive correlation with plasma leptin. the association between bmo and plasma leptin concentration was no longer significant when adjusted for bmd there was no correlation between plasma leptin concentrationand bone-related markers.conclusion: this cross-sectional study suggests that the relationship of plasma leptin concentration with bmd is mediated through obesity andplasma leptin is dependently associated with bmd.