Leptin and Gallstones: Are They Related?
Abstracts
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Obesity dramatically increases the risk of gallstone formation in females. Gallstone prevalence correlates positively with body mass index (BMI) and increases dramatically in the morbidly obese. Leptin, a hormone produced by adipocytes, and resistant leptin receptors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity. Recent studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that obese mice with both absent leptin and leptin receptor deficiency have abnormal biliary motility. Supersaturation of bile with cholesterol and abnormal gallbladder motility have been proposed as mechanisms to explain the higher prevalence of gallstones in obesity. However, the link between leptin and gallstone pathogenesis has not been established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the association between serum leptin levels and gallbladder disease in females. A gallbladder disease specific questionnaire that ascertained a history of prior cholecystectomy, medical history, demographic and anthropometric data was administered to a subgroup of 349 unrelated females participating in the Medical Risks of Obesity Genes Project. Serum leptin levels were measured by a radioimmunoassay for human leptin. Student's t-test was used to compare leptin levels between subjects with a history of cholecystectomy and those with no history of cholecystectomy. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. The mean age for the study population was 48.6 ? 13.5 years. The results for body mass index and leptin levels are shown in the table. These data suggest that a history of symptomatic gallbladder disease is associated with a greater body mass index and elevated serum leptin levels in females. Therefore, we conclude that an association exists between leptin and gallstone formation in women. |
