Smoking and adipose tissue inflammation suppress leptin expression in Japanese obese males: Potential mechanism of resistance to weight loss among Japanese obese smokers

Abstract

Adipose tissue inflammation appears to down-regulate leptin expression in adipose tissues. Nicotine further suppresses leptin expression. Thus, both smoking and inflammation may diminish leptin effect in obese subjects. Therefore, obese, but not normal weight, smokers might be more resistant to weight loss than non-smokers.