The impact of body mass index on serum androgen and leptin association in reproductive age women

Abstract

Background and objective: Obesity has been associated with increased androgenicity in women. There are, however, major inconsistencies in available data concerning the possible association between androgenicity and leptin in humans.The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of body mass index on androgens and the potential contribution of leptin in determination of androgen levels in women. Methods: The study included 80 healthy females with an established Body Mass Index (BMI). They were divided into 4 groups. First group, 30 normal weight subjects (BMI 35 Kg/m2). Serum, leptin, free testosterone, androstenedione, glucose, lipid profile and body mass index were measured. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in median serum androstenedione, while free testosterone was significantly lower (14.5 pg/ml) in obese grade II and higher in normal weight (60 pg/ml) and statistically significant increase in serum leptin with increase in body mass index. Serum free testosterone was lower (23.5 pg/ml) in subjects with highest quartile serum leptin and higher (43pg/ml), in subjects with lowest quartile serum leptin, the difference was not significant statistically. Conclusion: high body mass index negatively influence the circulating free testosterone in reproductive age women. An inverse association between circulating leptin and free testosterone was observed