Adipokines are biologically active elements rel ated to adipose tissue. Adipokines and their receptors guarantee the interaction of adipose tissue with other organ systems, that is nervous, immune and that of the endocrine glands.
Objective. To evaluate the indicators of leptin and adiponectin metabolism among perimenopausal women and their relationship with BMI and long-term changes in the BMI.
Material and methods. The group of women under investigation consisted of 60 women who were examined in 1986—1987 (during early pregnancy) and repeatedly in the years of 2006-2008 (during perimenopause). The following indicators were recorded for all the women who took part in the study in the years of 1986—1987 and 2006-2008: height and body mass as well as their BMI. The changes in the BMI over the period of 20 years were also evaluated. The concentrations of serum leptin and adiponectin were evaluated as well. Two secondary indicators were calculated: the ratio of leptin concentration with the concentration of adiponectin and the ratio of adiponectin concentration with BMI.
Results. The serum leptin concentration of the examined perimenopausal women is 14.3±7.5 ng/ml, adiponectin concentration is 23.9±14.31 ^g/ml; the leptin/ adiponectin ratio is 0.85±0.68, the adipo- nectin/BMI ratio is 0.93±0.67. Statistically reliable inverse link between the adipo- kines concentrations has been established: correlation ratio r = -0.30 (p<0.05). The leptin concentration was higher in women with higher BMI, however, no link was found between the concentrations with BMI changes over the period of 20 years. The concentration of adiponectin was higher in value for women with normal BMI compared with those with overweight. The long-term changes in the body structure are better reflected by relative adipokines indicators.
Conclusions. The statistically reliable inverse link between the concentrations of leptin and adiponectin has been found. Moreover, the connection between the indicators of the metabolism of the serum adipokines and the BMI as well as with long-term increase in the value of BMI among women havtng partictpated in the study has been found.
