Leptin-to-adiponectin ratio as independent predictor of insulin sensitivity during growth in overweight Hispanic youth

Because leptin and adiponectin are counter-regulated in vivo and exert opposing effects on glucose metabolism, fat oxidation and insulin sensitivity, the ratio of leptin-to-adiponectin has been investigated as a potential atherogenic index, suggesting that the index is a better biomarker for atherosclerotic risk in obese Type 2 diabetic patients than either leptin or adiponectin alone. However, no information is available regarding the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio during adolescence in Hispanic adolescents. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio during growth and to establish whether the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio is a better predictor for insulin sensitivity compared to leptin and adiponectin alone in a regression model. From the age of 8 to 14, the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio increased from 2.0±0.8 to 5.8±2.2 in girls, with no significant change noted in boys (gender x age interaction p=0.007). In a multiple regression analysis, including both adiponectin and leptin as independent variables, leptin and adiponectin explained 5% of the variation in insulin sensitivity independent of gender, age, Tanner stage, total fat mass and lean body mass (p for R²-change <0.001). The leptin-to-adiponectin ratio also explained 5% of the variation in insulin sensitivity, after controlling for the same covariates (p for R²-change < 0.001). These data indicate that the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio is not a better predictor of insulin sensitivity during growth than the additive effects of leptin and adiponectin levels.