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Horm Metab Res 2011; 43(09): 660-666
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1283139
Humans, Clinical
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · NewYork

Adipokine Serum Concentrations, Anthropometric Measurements and Socio-economic Status in Two Ethnic Groups with Different Prevalence Levels for Cardiovascular Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes

R. Waisberg
1   Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service and University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
,
J. E. Paiker
1   Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service and University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
,
N. J. Crowther
1   Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service and University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 06 April 2011

accepted16 June 2011

Publication Date:
05 August 2011 (online)

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Abstract

Obesity is more common in African than Asian-Indian populations and yet type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are more common in the latter populations. The main purpose of the current study was therefore to determine whether ethnic differences in body fat distribution, adipokine levels, and socio-economic status may explain population differences in the prevalence of these metabolic disorders. Leptin, IL-6, CRP, visceral fat, education level, and socio-economic status were measured in 50 African and the same number of Indian women residing in Johannesburg, South Africa. Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in Indian than African subjects (41.3±2.0 and 34.2±2.9 ng/ml, respectively; p<0.05). TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the African group, (5.22±0.86 vs. 2.54±0.52 pg/ml; p<0.05), whilst visceral fat levels were significantly lower (56.1±5.5 vs. 77.9±6.5 cm2; p<0.05). The CRP and IL-6 levels were not different between groups. Education levels (p<0.005) and socio-economic status (p<0.0001) were both lower in the African subjects, however, adjusting for these variables in ANCOVA did not attenuate differences in adipokine or visceral fat levels. We hypothesise that one of the reasons for the higher prevalence of obesity in the African than Indian population may be related to lower leptin levels, whilst ethnic differences in the prevalence of metabolic disorders cannot be explained by differences in adipokine levels, but maybe related to higher visceral adiposity in the Indian group.

Key words

leptin - obesity - visceral fat - inflammation - ethnicity
 

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