This study examined whether smoking habits affect the correlation between serum leptin levels and body mass index (BMI) in 101 postmenopausal Caucasian non-obese women, all aged 57-59years. Mean serum leptin level in the entire group was 19.8 +/- 12.3 ng/ml (mean +/- s.d.) and mean BMI was 25.3 +/- 3.5 kg/m2. These parameters correlated significantly to each other (r = 0.70, p < 0.001). Between those who have smoked regularly for more than 2 years (n = 26) and those who are ex-smokers or have never smoked (n = 75), serum leptin levels or BMI did not differ and the correlation between serum leptin and BMI was identical. This suggests that smoking habits do not influence circulating leptin in Caucasian postmenopausal non-obese women.