Serum leptin and skeletal differences between obese and non-obese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects body composition, adipokine secretion, and skeletal integrity. The aim was to determine the association between leptin, body mass (BM) and body composition parameters - fat mass (FM) and fat mass index (FMI), lean tissue mass (LTM), lean tissue mass index (LTMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) in 67 male COPD patients.

Methods: BM, body composition and biochemical indicators were measured or calculated using standard methods. Data were analyzed according to groups: non-obese (N = 48, BMI 21.0-29.9 kg/m(2)) and obese (N = 19, BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m(2)).

Results: In the non-obese group statistically significant correlations were observed: negative ones of age with most BMD T scores, positive ones of BMI with all T scores, FM, FMI, LTMI and leptin, of FMI with leptin and all T scores, and of LTMI with most T scores. In the obese group also statistically significant correlations were found: positive ones of BMI with FMI, LTM, leptin and T scores (trochanter, total hip); of FMI with leptin; and of leptin with total hip T score.

Conclusion: A positive relationship between FMI and BMD was found only in non-obese but not in obese COPD patients. Leptin concentration was associated positively with the total hip T score only in obese COPD patients, suggesting its protective role on the skeleton of obese COPD patients.