Serum leptin level across different phases of menstrual cycle in normal weight and overweight/obese females

Abstract

We compared serum leptin levels during various phases of menstrual cycle and its correlation with serum estradiol between normal weight and overweight/obese young females. Fifty-six young females with normal menstrual cycle were grouped into 26 normal weight and 30 overweight/obese subjects. Serum leptin and estradiol levels were measured during early follicular, pre-ovulatory and luteal phases of menstrual cycle in both groups using ELISA technique. Serum leptin levels were significantly different across different phases of menstrual cycle with a steady increment from follicular phase (9.97 ± 5.48 ng/dl) through pre-ovulatory phase (11.58 ± 6.49 ng/dl) with their peaks in luteal phase (12.52 ± 6.39 ng/dl, p < .001). Same pattern of change during menstrual phases was observed when the normal weight and overweight/obese group were analyzed separately. Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in overweight/obese group compared to normal weight subjects. In any of the study groups, leptin levels were not found to be correlated with estradiol level during different phases of menstrual cycle.