Mikael Lilja´s research

Obesity and disturbed glucose metabolism in northern Sweden, with the focus on adipocyte-derived hormones as risk factors for diabetes

Background
Adiponectin is inversely linked to diabetes, while it is debated whether leptin predicts diabetes independently of traditional risk factors. Ethnic differences in leptin levels and the intra-individual stability of leptin are incompletely studied. 

Aim
To describe time trends in obesity and glucose levels (including IFG, IGT), and to explore leptin and adiponectin as predictors of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes in northern Sweden. To explore ethnic differences in leptin levels and the intra-individual and seasonal stability of leptin.

Method
Leptin and adiponectin from stored samples are used together with anthropometry from three large population surveys. The Northern Sweden MONICA and Västerbotten Intervention Program (VIP) have data from a Europid population in northern Sweden (age 25–74 and 30–60 years respectively). The Mauritius Non-communicable Disease Study bring data from Asian Indian and Creole populations aged 25–74 years. The diabetes incidence register DIVE identifies diabetics participating in VIP.

Findings and expected findings
The prevalence of general and central obesity increased in northern Sweden 1986–2004. Leptin independently predicts future diabetes in Swedish men. Asian Indian men and women have higher levels of leptin, adjusted for traditional anthropometric measures, than Creole and Swedish men and women. Intra-individual leptin levels are stable over time and no seasonal variation was seen. Future study is expected to show an increase in glucose levels 1986–2009 in northern Sweden, an increase that can be related to circulating levels of leptin and adiponectin.

Supervisor:   Stefan Söderberg