Abstract
We addressed the relationship between plasma leptin and body mass index in 48 able-bodied
male controls and 34 male subjects with spinal cord injury, as well as the association
between plasma leptin with body fat by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in those with
spinal cord injury. In subjects with spinal cord injury, the effect of an oral glucose
tolerance test and the relationship of the serum lipid profile with plasma leptin
levels were determined. Body mass index was not significantly different between the
spinal cord injury and control groups. Plasma leptin was significantly higher in the
group with spinal cord injury than in the control group (12.7 ± 1.7 vs. 7.6 ± 0.9
ng/ml, p < 0.005). A linear relationship was found between plasma leptin and body
mass index in both groups separately (spinal cord injury: r = 0.59, p < 0.0002; control:
r 0.67, p < 0.0001). In those with SCI, a polynomial relationship was evident between
plasma leptin and percent fat (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). After an oral glucose load,
plasma insulin levels and serum glucose concentrations were not related to plasma
leptin levels. Serum triglycerides were found to be weakly correlated with plasma
leptin levels (r = 0.35, p < 0.05). The higher plasma leptin levels in the group with
spinal cord injury compared with the control group was probably due to a relatively
increased percentage of adiposity in those with spinal cord injury.
Key words
Paraplegia - Plasma Leptin - Body Mass Index - Fat Mass - Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry
- Triglycerides
