Leptin and the metabolic syndrome in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1

Abstract

Objectives - To evaluate serum leptin concentration and its relation to metabolic syndrome (MSy) in non-diabetic patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Materials and methods - This study included 34 DM1 patients, and the same number of healthy subjects matched for age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Results - DM1 patients had increased BMI and insulin resistance, and increased leptin and insulin concentrations, but the other features of MSy such as diabetes, glucose intolerance and hypertension were not detected in DM1 patients. Serum leptin levels were higher in patients with DM1 than in healthy controls (8.5 ± 6.6 ng/ml vs 3.6 ± 2.9 ng/ml in men, and 13.9 ± 10.0 ng/ml vs 10.9 ± 6.9 ng/ml in women, respectively). In DM1 patients, leptin levels correlated with BMI, fasting insulin and insulin resistance (HOMA) (P < 0.01). Conclusions - The leptin overproduction correlated with insulin resistance in DM1 patients but the significance of this finding remains unclear. © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard.