64 We also report a negative genetic correlation between alcohol consumption and leptin levels (rG=−0.26, s.e.=0.08). Leptin is a hormone generated by adipose cells and is involved in inducing satiety. Moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to inhibition of leptin in healthy volunteers65 but a study of healthy postmenopausal women found the ingestion of 15–30 g of alcohol per day associated with increased serum leptin levels.66 Work in rodents has shown that alcohol consumption decreases serum leptin but increases leptin levels in adipose tissue.67 These findings are intriguing and the genetic link between hunger, obesity and alcohol consumption warrants further investigation.
