Race/Ethnicity-Specific Associations between Smoking, Serum Leptin, and Abdominal Fat: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Objective: Smoking is a well-known cardio­vascular risk factor associated with weight loss. We aimed to evaluate the association between smoking, serum leptin levels, and abdominal fat.Design: Cross-sectionalSetting: Data from examinations 2 or 3 (2002-2005) of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)Participants: 1,875 asymptomatic, commu­nity-dwelling adultsMain Outcomes Measures: We used multivariable linear regression models to assess the race/ethnicity-specific associations between smoking, serum loge-leptin levels, and computed tomography ascertained abdominal fat. Results were adjusted for de­mographic and relevant clinical covariates.Results: Participants (mean age 64.5±9.6 years; 50.6% women; 42.2% former, 11.4% current smokers) were White (40.1%), His­panic (25.8%), African American (21.1%), and Chinese (13.0%). Overall, median (25th – 75th percentile) leptin levels were signifi­cantly lower among current (11.14 ng/mL; 4.13 – 26.18) and former smokers (11.68 ng/mL; 4.72 – 27.57), as compared with never smokers (15.61 ng/mL; 3.05 – 30.12) (P<.001). The difference in median leptin levels between current and never smok­ers were significantly higher for Hispan­ics (Δ9.64 ng/mL) and African Americans (Δ8.81 ng/mL) than Whites (Δ2.10 ng/mL) and Chinese (Δ4.70 ng/mL) (P<.001). After adjustment for total abdominal fat, loge- leptin levels remained lower for former (-.14 [-.22 – -.07]) and current (-.17 [-.28 – -.05]) smokers, compared with never smokers. Results differed by race/ethnicity, with signif­icantly lower loge-leptin levels observed only among current and former African Ameri­cans and Hispanic smokers, compared with their never smoker counterparts. (Ps for interaction <.05)Conclusions: Among smokers, leptin levels significantly vary by race/ethnicity. Former and current smoking are associ­ated with lower leptin levels, although this may be restricted to Hispanics and African Americans. Ethn Dis. 2018;28(4):531-538; doi:10.18865/ed.28.4.531