LEP and coronary artery disorder: Importantly, in a large prospective study, increased IL-6 levels were associated with a higher risk of CVD, specifically coronary heart disease, as strongly as major established risk factors, such as blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels (45) Leptin is an adipokine with an essential role in energy balance through a variety of functions, some of which are related to cardiovascular health (7, 18, 20).