Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Serum Leptin Levels And Anthropometric Correlates In Ache Amerindians Of Eastern Paraguay, Richard G. Bribiescas

Richard G. Bribiescas

Leptin is a recently discovered peptide hor- mone secreted primarily from adipocytes in humans and other mammals; it is a reflection of fat stores, and has been associated with reproductive function. However, few leptin measurements are available from nonindustrialized popula- tions, including contemporary hunter/gatherer communities undergoing the transition to sedentary agriculture. This in- vestigation reports single-sample serum leptin measure- ments in healthy Ache Amerindian males (n 􏱕 21; average age, 32.8 􏱣 3.4 SE) and females (n 􏱕 12; average age, 31.3 􏱣 4.3) in eastern Paraguay. Ache leptin concentrations were much lower than in industrialized populations, although significant sexual …