Influence of a family history of type II diabetes on fasting leptin and adiponectin plasma levels

Background and aims Family history of type II diabetes appears to increase the risk of type II diabetes and of coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a first- degree family history of type II diabetes on fasting plasma concentrations of leptin and adiponectin in an outpatient clinical setting. Methods and results The study included 46 nondiabetic premenopausal overweight and obese women, aged 22- 50 years. A total of 22 subjects had no family history of type II diabetes until the third generation (FH-) and 24 subjects had a family history of type II diabetes (FH+), defined as having one or both parents with type II diabetes. Fasting plasma leptin and adiponectin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Leptin concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in FH+ than in FH- subjects. Moreover, after multiple regression analyses, both leptin (positively, p < 0.01) and adiponectin (negatively, p < 0.05) maintained a significant association with family history of diabetes, independently of age, body mass index, insulin resistance (estimated by homeostasis model assessment, HOMAIR), glucose, lipids, and blood pressure levels. Conclusions This study indicated that a genetic predisposition to type II diabetes is associated with higher leptin concentrations and lower adiponectin levels independently of insulin resistance, blood pressure and metabolic parameters, which thus possibly contribute to the higher risk of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease in subjects with a family history of type II diabetes.