Leptin and Adiponectin Concentrations Independently Predict Future Accumulation of Visceral Fat in Nondiabetic Japanese Americans

Abstract

Objective Whether leptin and adiponectin are independently associated with regional body fat distribution was investigated in a prospective study of Japanese Americans. Methods Nondiabetic participants 39 to 79 years of age were followed for 5 years to assess change in body composition. Leptin and adiponectin concentrations were evaluated at baseline and by single‐slice computed tomography measurements of intra‐abdominal fat (IAF), abdominal subcutaneous fat (SCF), and thigh SCF cross‐sectional areas at baseline and at 5 years. Results Ninety‐six men and ninety‐five women without diabetes had the following baseline mean (SD) values: age 45.7 (3.5) years and 46.4 (3.9) years, IAF 78.7 (38.6) cm2 and 62.1 (39.0) cm2, leptin concentration 4.5 (2.3) μg/L and 10.2 (5.2) μg/L, and adiponectin concentration 7.4 (3.2) μg/mL and 10.8 (4.7) μg/mL, respectively. Baseline leptin (β = 1.7722, P = 0.014) and adiponectin concentrations (β = −0.4162, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with IAF change over 5 years in multivariable models adjusting for age, sex, diabetes family history, weight change over 5 years, and baseline measurements of BMI, IAF, abdominal SCF, waist circumference, thigh fat, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance. Conclusions In nondiabetic Japanese Americans, a higher concentration of leptin was associated with greater accumulation of IAF and a higher concentration of adiponectin with lesser accumulation of IAF over 5 years.