Objectives Leptin and leptin receptor have been implicated in processes leading to breast cancer initiation and progression.An A to G transition mutation in codon 223, in exon 6 of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) can result in glutamine to arginine substitution (Gln223Arg).A variety of case-controls studies have been published evaluating the association between LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphism and breast cancer, however, published studies have yielded contradictory conclusions.Methods This meta-analysis enrolled eight studies to estimate the overall risk of LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphism associated with breast cancer.The pooled ORs were performed for codominant model (GG versus AA;GA versus AA), dominant model(GG+GA versus AA), recessive model(GG versus GA+AA).Results Overall significantly elevated breast cancer risk was found for recessive model (OR =1.32, 95% CI =1.03-1.69) and for genotype AG versus AA (OR =1.16, 95% CI =1.01-1.33).In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, significantly increased risks were also found among African for genotype GG versus AA: OR =1.86, 95% CI =1.28-2.71, AG versus AA: OR =1.48, 95% CI =1.10-1.99,dominant model: OR =1.60, 95% CI =1.21-2.11 and recessive model: OR =0.67, 95% CI =0.49-0.93 (Table 2);For Asian, GG versus AA: OR =6.79, 95% CI =3.42-13.47 and dominant model: OR =2.03, 95% CI =1.42-2.90, however, no significantly increased risk was found among European for all genetic models.Conclusions The LEPR 223Arg is a low-penetrant risk for developing breast cancer, especially for African.