Abstract:
Aim: To investigate the concept of obesity paradox in diabetes
patients and nondiabetic control in the Cape Coast Metropolis of
Ghana. Materials and Methods: Levels of leptin, adiponectin,
total antioxidant power (TAP), lipid peroxides, and C‑reactive
protein (CRP) were assessed in 115 diabetics and an equal number
of control respondents. Furthermore, various anthropometric
indices and blood pressure were measured using standard methods.
Levels of biomarkers were compared between groups based on
body mass index or blood pressure classifications. Results: Control
respondents exhibited higher (P < 0.05) levels of leptin, adiponectin,
and TAP but lower levels of CRP and peroxides than diabetes
patients. In each study group, overweight/obese respondents
exhibited higher (P < 0.05) leptin level but comparable (P > 0.05)
mean levels of the various biomarkers, except TAP level which
was higher (P < 0.05) in the overweight/obese diabetic respondents
only. Mean level of adiponectin was lower (P < 0.05) only in
systolic diabetic hypertensives with comparable (P > 0.05) levels
of the other biomarkers between diabetes patients and their control
counterpart. Irrespective of diabetes, obesity, or hypertensive status,
leptin associated positively with various measures of adiposity.
Adiponectin correlated positively with leptin (R > 0.38; P < 0.05)
only in the control respondents, suggesting a possible functional
paradox of the adipocytokines in this group of respondents.
Conclusion: Overweight/obese respondents appear metabolically
healthier than their normal‑weight counterparts. However, further
studies are needed for proper understanding of this concept in the
Ghanaian context.
