Telomere length and adiposity in a racially diverse sample

Objective: To evaluate the cross-sectional relationship of anthropometric measures ( body mass index (BMI) and visceral fat and the adipokines leptin and adiponectin) with telomere length in a racially diverse sample. Design: Cross-sectional study of participants recruited from a health science university. Subjects: Participants include 317 men and women aged 40-64 years without diagnosed diabetes, cardiovascular disease ( defined as coronary heart disease or stroke/transient ischemic attack) or cancer. Results: Study participants were 54.9% female, 58% non-Hispanic white (NHW) and 42% non-Hispanic Black (NHB). Of the sample, 76% were either overweight or obese. Linear regressions showed no association between the anthropometric measures (BMI (kg m(-2)), visceral fat (cm(2)), adiponectin (mu g ml(-1)), leptin (ng ml(-1)) or adiponectin to leptin ratio (mu g ng(-1))) assessed in a continuous manner and telomere length assay ratio, either for the whole sample or when stratified by race or by gender. Conclusion: This study finds no linear associations between telomere length and several measures of obesity in a sample of NHB and NHW men and women. Further studies are needed to identify factors that influence telomere length in diverse populations. International Journal of Obesity (2010) 34, 261-265; doi: 10.1038/ijo.2009.198; published online 22 September 2009