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Circulating leptin is associated with serum uric acid level and its tubular reabsorption in a sample of adult middle-aged men

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Abstract

Purpose

Leptin is associated with cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. hypertension, insulin resistance, kidney disease and excess body weight). Experimental studies showed that leptin might affect serum uric acid, by modulation of the uric acid excretion. However, there are few observational data on the relationship between leptin and uric acid in the general population. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between leptin and uric acid and its excretion in a large middle-aged male general population.

Methods

A sample of 930 adult male individuals (mean age: 52 years) without therapy for high uric acid was included in the analysis (the Olivetti Heart Study).

Results

Uric acid was significantly and positively associated with blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein and leptin (p < 0.01), while inversely with renal function (p = 0.01). The multivariate analysis confirmed the association between leptin and uric acid after adjustment for potential confounders (p < 0.01). After division for adiposity, this trend was confirmed separately for normal weight and excess body weight participants. Moreover, leptin was inversely associated with excretion of uric acid (p < 0.01), also in multivariate analysis (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate a positive association between circulating leptin levels and uric acid, independently of potential confounders, both in normal and excess body weight men. Furthermore, an inverse association between leptin and uric acid excretion was detected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, ESH Excellence Center of Hypertension, “Federico II” University of Naples Medical School, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy

    L. D’Elia, A. Giaquinto, R. Iacone, O. Russo, P. Strazzullo & F. Galletti

  2. World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nutrition, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

    F. P. Cappuccio

  3. Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

    F. P. Cappuccio

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  1. L. D’Elia
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  2. A. Giaquinto
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  3. F. P. Cappuccio
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  4. R. Iacone
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  5. O. Russo
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  6. P. Strazzullo
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Correspondence to L. D’Elia or F. Galletti.

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The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of “Federico II” University in Naples.

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D’Elia, L., Giaquinto, A., Cappuccio, F.P. et al. Circulating leptin is associated with serum uric acid level and its tubular reabsorption in a sample of adult middle-aged men. J Endocrinol Invest 43, 587–593 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-019-01140-4

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