Correlation of High Serum Leptin Levels with selected stress-associated salivary hormones in Arab Healthy Young Men.

Background: Allostatic load is accompanying the youth's modern lifestyle. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of stress markers such as salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormone levels in Arab young men with high levels of leptin. Methods: 118 males aged 18-26 years, were eligible to participate in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Participants were categorized into two groups: moderate levels of serum leptin (<7 ng/ml) and high levels of leptin levels (=7 ng/ml). Serum leptin, salivary cortisol and DHEA, lipid profile, and fasting blood glucose were assayed for each participant. Results: A significant decrease in the mean levels of morning salivary-DHEA was observed in high levels of leptin compared to moderate levels of serum leptin study group (p< 0.0001). A significant increase was also observed in mean values of body weight and body-mass index. A positive correlation was observed between morning salivary-DHEA and serum-leptin levels in all subjects (p =0.003). Pearson correlation showed significant correlations between morning salivary-DHEA, body weight, body mass index, and triglyceride. Conclusion: The serum leptin level was proportional to the DHEA/cortisol imbalance that was associated with allostatic load and the inability to accommodate stress in male youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]