Effect of high altitude chronic hypoxia on levels of human serum leptin and other hormones

  Objective   To study the effect of chronic hypobaric hypoxia to the levels of human leptin and other hormones relating to energy metabolism.

  Methods   The levels of leptin, grouth hormone(GH)and insulin(INS)were measured in blood of healthy adults by ELISA method, Who lived in several high altitudes for long period, < 3 000 m(groupⅠ), 3 000 m(groupò), and 4 000 m-(groupⅢ)respectively.

  Results   Leptin levels were not different among the groups(P > 0.05).INS levels were different among the groups in men(P < 0.01), and GH levels were different among the groups in women(P < 0.05).With altitude increasing, the levels of leptin, GH and INS all ranged from low to high to low in men and women.Conclusion High altitude chrohic hypoxia might not effect on leptin, but had effect on other hormones relating to energy metabolism, and the effect might not ralate to the degree of chronic hypoxia at high altitude.