부산대학교 도서관

Serum leptin levels were measured in normal subjects (6 males, 5 females), obesity (2 males and 1 female), anorexia nervosa with extreme emaciation (2 females) and primary adrenal insufficiency with normal body weight (1 female). The relationships of leptin with body weight, body mass index (BMI) and body fat mass, and gender differences were observed. The role of leptin in such pathological conditions described above was considered as well. Serum leptin levels showed positive corellation with body weight, BMI and body fat mass. Females (7.6±0.6ng/ml) showed higher leptin levels than males (2.6±1.1) in normal subjects. This difference could be attributed to different body fat distribution and sex hormones between female and male. Leptin levels were elevated in obese subjects. These high levels were, however, descreased following the calorie restriction and weight loss. Serum leptin levels can be a new candidate to estimate the degree of obesity as well as a good indicator in dieting programs. Low leptin levels observed in patients with anorexia nervosa indicate that the anorectic action of leptin does not seem to be involved in anorectic symptom shown in these patients. Low leptin levels in adrenal insufficiency without emaciation are possibly caused by low cortisol secretion in the patient.