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Gender differences in adiponectin, leptin and ghrelin levels have been described in normal population. This is important for understanding differences between males and females in the regulation of food intake, weight gain, body fat distribution and cardiovascular risk. It is unclear how endogenous and exogenous sex hormones may regulate circulating levels of these factors. Transsexuals during hormonal treatment may represent an ideal model to ascertain role of exogenous sex hormones on these parameters. To evaluate adiponectin, ghrelin and leptin levels in transsexual subjects during hormone therapy and to compare the results with males and females. Subjects: 26 non diabetic transsexuals, 15 male-to-female (M-to-F, group 3), and 11 female-to-male (F-to-M, group 4) and 29 age- BMI-matched controls, 15 males (group 1) and 14 females (group 2). Leptin levels were significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 2 (P=0.04), and group 3 (P=0.01), no differences were recorded between the other groups. Adiponectin levels were significantly higher in group 3 compared with group 4 (P=0.03). No differences were found between the four groups for ghrelin levels. Our data confirm the sexual dimorphism in serum leptin levels in normal subjects and demonstrate an increase in M-to-F. While ghrelin does not show any sexual differences and it seems not influenced by exogenous sex hormone administration, the lower adiponectin levels in F-to-M during treatment confirm that androgens may decrease plasma adiponectin levels. This latter observation suggests that F-to-M transsexual patients could have a higher cardiovascular risk.
Key words: Leptin •
adiponectin •
cardiovascular risk •
ghrelin •
transsexuals
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