Effect of Smoking Habit on Circulating Adipokines in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Subjects

Abstract

Background: Despite the well-known inverse association between smoking and body weight, there have been conflicting reports on the association between smoking and adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin. Aim: To determine and compare whether tobacco smoking (cigarettes or sheesha) affects circulating levels of adiponectin and/or influences leptin and leptin receptor (sOb-R) concentrationsand free leptin in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Methods and Subjects: Fasting plasma adiponectin, leptin, sOb-R, glucose, insulin, and lipid profile were determined in 236 subjects grouped as control subjects (n = 53); non-diabetic cigarette smokers (n = 34), non-diabetic sheesha smokers (n = 38), diabetic nonsmokers (n = 75) and diabetic smokers (n = 36). Uni- and multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the associations of these variables with body mass index (BMI) and smoking. Results: When compared to control subjects, smoking cigarettes or sheesha was associated with significantly higher glucose, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lower serum leptin, sOb-R and free leptin. The effects of smoking on BMI, leptin and sOb-R were dose-dependent. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that smoking is a significant determinant of BMI; leptin, sOb-R, free leptin index, adiponectin and LDL-C. Conclusions: We conclude that smoking sheesha does not reduce the metabolic effects of smoking. Smoking may modify leptin receptors and modulate leptin synthesis but the weight-lowering effect may not be related to leptin-induced anorectic signals.