Leptin, as a major
adipokine, positively correlates with the body's fat, while atopy is an important feature in the development of childhood
asthma. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between
leptin, parameters of
obesity, and atopy in children with
asthma. The study included 112 children (73 boys, 39 girls, mean age 11.1±2.4). 41 were
overweight, 38 had
asthma and a normal body mass index (BMI), and 33 were
overweight asthmatics. Serum
leptin levels, BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist to hips ratio (WHR) were measured. Skin prick test (SPT)/CAP, total serum
IgE, fractional exhaled
nitric oxide (FeNO), and pulmonary function tests were performed. In asthmatic children, serum
leptin median level was 9.2±16.2 ng/ml, in
overweight children was 30.6±21.6 ng/ml, and in
overweight asthmatics was 31.1±20.3 ng/ml with a significant difference between the groups (p=0.0374), yet with a significantly lower median level in the group of children with
asthma compared to the
overweight children: with
asthma (p=0.00001) and without
asthma (p=0.00001). In the three groups of patients, BMI and WC displayed a significant positive correlation with
leptin (for BMI r=0.652 vs. r=0.530 vs. r=0.563, respectively and for WC r=0.508 vs. r=0.426 vs. r=0.527, respectively). No significant correlations of
leptin within atopy parameters (Eo,
IgE, SPT/CAP, FeNO) in all three analyzed groups (p>0.05) was detected. Conclusion: Atopy was not confirmed as an underlying mechanism of the association between
asthma and being
overweight.
Leptin had a significant linear correlation as a parameter of
central obesity with BMI and WC in all three groups, but not with WHR.