Blood Pressure Correlates with Serum Leptin and Body Mass Index in Overweight Male Saudi Students

The precise association of serum leptin (Lep) with the body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) is not well known for understanding their involvement in health and disease. Hence, the present study was conducted to investigate the association of BP, BMI and serum Lep levels in young normal-weight (NW) and overweight (OW) male Saudi students. The NW (n: 198) and OW (n: 192) male subjects in the age range of 18-20 years were consulted. The BP was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer. Leptin Human ELISA Kits were employed for the determination of the serum Lep levels. The mean & PLUSMN; SD values of BMI (kg/m(2)), Lep (ng/mL), systolic BP (SBP; mmHg), and diastolic BP (DBP; mmHg) all showed significant differences for young OW vs. NW subjects as: 27.52 & PLUSMN; 1.42 vs. 21.49 & PLUSMN; 2.03; 10.70 & PLUSMN; 4.67 vs. 4.68 & PLUSMN; 1.91; 121.37 & PLUSMN; 2.59 vs. 118.51 & PLUSMN; 1.54 and 81.44 & PLUSMN; 1.97 vs. 78.79 & PLUSMN; 1.44, respectively. All associations (among BMI, Lep, SBP and DBP) showed a positive linear and significant correlation, except the nonsignificant correlation of BMI and SBP for the NW group. Other variables showing significant variation for NW vs. OW subjects were: interleukin-6, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, apelin (APLN) and resistin. Serum APLN correlated significantly with Lep, BMI, SBP and DBP in lower and higher levels of BMI, with considerable progressive patterns in both the NW and OW groups and subgroups. The present study in young Saudi male students presents significant variations for BP and serum leptin levels, and a significant positive linear association among serum leptin, BMI and BP.

Automated summary

This study investigated the association between blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and serum leptin levels in young male Saudi students. The results showed significant differences in BMI, leptin, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between the overweight and normal-weight groups. There was also a positive correlation between BMI, leptin, SBP, and DBP, except for the nonsignificant correlation between BMI and SBP in the normal-weight group. Other variables, such as interleukin-6, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, apelin, and resistin, also showed significant variations between the two groups.