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Telomere length and adiposity in a racially diverse sample

International Journal of Obesity volume 34, pages 261–265 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

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 (cm2), adiponectin (μg ml−1), leptin (ng ml−1) or adiponectin to leptin ratio (μg 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.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the SECTR pilot program at the Medical University of South Carolina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    V A Diaz, A G Mainous (III), M S Player & C J Everett

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  1. V A Diaz
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  2. A G Mainous
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  3. M S Player
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  4. C J Everett
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Correspondence to V A Diaz.

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Diaz, V., Mainous, A., Player, M. et al. Telomere length and adiposity in a racially diverse sample. Int J Obes 34, 261–265 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.198

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