Influence of Cigarette Smoking and Leptin Levels in Overweightindividuals

An increase in Leptin levels is well-known in obese individuals which is the consequence of increased body fat mass. Cigarette smoking is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality with Respiratory and Cardiovascular disease. Adipocytokines like Leptin have been identified to play an important role in obesity and inflammation. Objective The main objective of this study is to compare serum Leptin levels in overweight smokers and overweight non-smokers. Materials and Methods This is a cross-sectional study carried out in subjects with BMI more than 25.0 to 29.9.Smoking history was investigated. We measured Leptin concentration (DRG Sandwich – ELISA) and blood lipid levels in 30 middle aged male smokers and 30 non-smokers. Waist circumference was measured and body fat % was calculated. Results Mean of serum Leptin showed a statistically significant elevation in the overweight smokers as compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05). In overweight smokers, serum Leptin levels were significantly increased with the number of cigarettes smoked per day. And Leptin levels correlated positively with BMI, waist circumference, body fat % in all the subjects. Our study showed a significant strong negative correlation with HDLc and positive correlation with Cardiac Risk Ratio (TC/HDLc) in overweight smokers. Thus, male chronic smokers have a higher leptin levels and justifies the degree of adiposity. Smoking not only triggers immune system but induces a decrease in hypothalamic sensitivity to leptin and thereby increases adipose tissue leptin production. Smoking appears to be one of the direct modulators of leptin metabolism in overweight subjects.