leptin levels in obese and non-obese african and caucasian subjects with type 2 diabetes

it has previously been demonstrated that circulating levels of leptin show ethnic differences when controlled for the confounding influence of adiposity. this study examined leptin levels in non-obese and obese subjects with type 2 diabetes of african versus caucasian origin. materials and methods non-obese and obese subjects with type 2 diabetes of either african origin living in dar es salaam, tanzania (n=22) or caucasian origin living in malmo, sweden (n=24) were studied by taking a fasting sample for analysis of insulin and leptin after an overnight fast. all subjects were treated with metformin alone or with sulfonylurea with or without addition of metformin. results it was found that age, bmi, waist circumference,blood pressure and fasting glucose or insulin did not differ between africans and caucasians, when divided into obese and nonobese subjects. however, leptin levels were 50°/., higher in the african subjects than in the caucasians, when controlled for gender and bmi (p=o.01). conclusion we conclude that both in non-obese and obese subjects with type 2 diabetes, leptin levels are higher among subjects of african origin than of caucasian origin. this may be related to higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in these subjects.