Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Adiponectin”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

Plasma adiponectin levels in postmenopausal women with or without long-term hormone therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Recent large, prospective, randomized studies show that hormone therapy (HT) does not confer a protective effect against cardiovascular disease (CVD) but may in fact increase cardiovascular events. Low plasma adiponectin levels are considered to be related to the development of atherosclerosis and CVD. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of long-term hormone therapy on plasma adiponectin levels in postmenopausal women. METHODS: We recruited a total of 88 postmenopausal women aged 55-69 years old. Our sample consisted of 44 women who had undergone estrogen plus progestogen therapy (EPT) for more than 5 years and 44 age-matched women who had not received HT. We measured plasma adiponectin levels, the serum levels of their lipid profiles, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting glucose levels, fasting insulin levels and estradiol levels. Their medical histories including their age at menopause, vitamin use, exercise, alcohol ingestion and cigarette smoking were also assessed by a questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean duration (mean+/-S.D.) of HT was 8.4+/-2.4 years. The mean serum estradiol level (mean+/-S.D.) of the HT group was 47.9+/-36.8 pg/L, significantly higher than that of the non-HT group (p<0.01). Plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the HT group than in the non-HT group (p<0.05). Plasma adiponectin levels were inversely correlated to cholesterol, triglycerides and HOMA-IR (r=-0.33, p<0.05; r=-0.40, p<0.01 and r=-0.30, p<0.05, respectively) in the non-HRT group, but such correlations were not seen in the HT group. In the multivariate analysis, hormone therapy and serum estradiol levels were the independent factors associated with plasma adiponectin levels after adjustments were made for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in postmenopausal women with long-term HT than in those without HT, suggesting that long-term HT may modulate plasma adiponectin level in postmenopausal women.

Adiponectin↗

Lower expression of adiponectin mRNA in visceral adipose tissue in lean and obese subjects.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-specific protein suggested to play a role in mediating the metabolic effects of obesity. In the present study, we investigated adiponectin mRNA levels in both visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (AT) from lean and obese subjects. Investigations on both "fresh" fat biopsies and incubations of AT fragments were performed. Regional differences in the effects of the cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were investigated. Adiponectin gene expression was 33% lower in visceral AT than in subcutaneous AT of lean subjects (P < 0.05), and 28% lower in obese subjects, albeit non-significant (P = 0.3). In both lean and obese subjects adiponectin mRNA expression in incubated AT fragments was significantly lower in visceral AT than in subcutaneous AT (lean: P < 0.01; obese: P < 0.05). No difference was found in adiponectin mRNA levels in gluteal compared to abdominal subcutaneous AT. IL-1beta suppressed adiponectin mRNA levels substantially in both subcutaneous and visceral AT. In conclusion, adiponectin gene expression is lower in visceral AT than in subcutaneous abdominal AT, suggesting subcutaneous AT to be more important for circulating adiponectin levels.

Adiponectin↗

Altered relationship between body fat and plasma adiponectin in end-stage renal disease.

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) show an inverse association between body mass index and risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Paradoxical epidemiology may suggest some beneficial effects of body fat in ESRD. Because an antiatherogenic adipocytokine adiponectin is increased in uremic plasma, we tested a hypothesis that, in ESRD, plasma adipocytokine profile may be less atherogenic or that the relationship between body fat and adipocytokines may be altered. The subjects were 103 patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis and 166 healthy subjects comparable in age and sex. We measured body fat mass by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and plasma levels of adiponectin and leptin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ESRD group showed a significant increase in plasma adiponectin, leptin, and adiponectin/leptin ratio than the healthy subjects. Although sex and fat mass were significant factors correlating with plasma adiponectin level in the healthy group, none of these were significantly associated with plasma adiponectin in the patients with ESRD. In contrast, leptin showed significant relationships with sex and fat mass regardless of the presence of ESRD. Plasma adiponectin correlated negatively with plasma triglycerides and positively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both healthy and ESRD groups, suggesting that uremic adiponectin retains its actions in favor of its antiatherogenicity. Thus, plasma adipocytokine profile was altered in ESRD, and the effects of body fat and sex on adiponectin were less significant in the patients with ESRD.

Adiponectin↗

Serum adiponectin is related to plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol but not to plasma insulin-concentration in healthy children: the FLVS II study.

Although low levels of plasma adiponectin were associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk in adults, few data investigated that relationship in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma adiponectin and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy children. This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in Fleurbaix and Laventie, 2 cities in the north of France. The main outcome measure was the correlations between plasma adiponectin and adiposity variables (the body mass index, the sum of 4 skinfolds, waist circumference [WC], and percent body fat [bioimpedance]), blood pressure, plasma glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and insulin. In 398 children of both sexes, adiponectin was not significantly related to age and pubertal stage. In boys only, adiponectin correlated with WC (r = -0.19; P = .008) and body mass index (r = -0.15; P = .04) but not with other adiposity variables. After taking into account WC, adiponectin was positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol in boys (r = 0.14; P = .05) and girls (r = 0.25; P = .0004), but was not correlated with insulin and homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance in both sexes. These results suggest that, in apparently healthy children, adiponectin is related to the level of HDL-cholesterol independently of fat mass. The relationship between adiponectin and insulin resistance previously reported in obese or diabetic children was not apparent in these subjects and may therefore occur only at later age with fat accumulation.

Adiponectin↗

Vanadium and insulin increase adiponectin production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Both adiponectin, an adipokine secreted by adipocytes, and vanadium compounds, have been extensively shown to enhance insulin sensitivity in vivo and in vitro. In this study we examined whether insulin and vanadyl sulfate (VS) affected adiponectin release and cell content from 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and whether they acted through a similar signaling pathway. Adiponectin cell content, but not release, consistently increased in cells treated with insulin (100 nM) and VS (10 and 50 microM) after 24 h. On the other hand, VS-induced adiponectin release only occurred after 4 days of incubation. The protein kinase B (PKB) inhibitor, NL-71-101, decreased both insulin and VS-induced adiponectin cell content, while neither wortmannin nor LY 294002, inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), attenuated insulin or VS-induced adiponectin cell content. Furthermore, VS-induced adiponectin accumulation occurred in the presence of AGL2263, an insulin receptor (IR) inhibitor. These studies provide the first evidence that vanadium could exert its insulin sensitizing effects through the stimulation of adiponectin through a PKB-dependent transduction pathway.

3T3-L1 Cells↗

Plasma adiponectin concentration before and after successful kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin, a protein secreted exclusively by adipocytes, is presumed to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and insulin resistance. An elevated plasma adiponectin concentration was found in ESRD patients on hemodialysis (HD). However, the role of kidneys in adiponectin biodegradation/elimination is unknown. Therefore, we assessed plasma adiponectin concentrations in ESRD patients before and after successful kidney transplantation. METHODS: Among 44 hemodialyzed patients (29 men, 15 women; mean age 39 +/- 11 years; mean body mass index [BMI] 23.6 +/- 3.5 kg/m(2); mean duration of HD treatment before kidney transplantation 27 +/- 26 months), plasma adiponectin concentrations and insulin resistance indices (HOMA-R) were measured twice: immediately before kidney transplantation (Tx) and 1-2 days before patient discharge from the hospital with stable kidney transplant function (mean serum creatinine level 191 +/- 105 micromol/L). The control group consisted of 22 normotensive healthy subjects (12 men, 10 women). RESULTS: Among uremic patients, before Tx, plasma adiponectin concentrations were significantly higher than in healthy subjects (20.8 +/- 8.3 vs 8.7 +/- 4.8 microg/mL; P <.001) After successful Tx, plasma adiponectin concentrations decreased significantly (20.8 +/- 8.3 vs 15.7 +/- 7.0 microg/mL before and after Tx, respectively; P <.001). Simultaneously, after successful kidney transplantation, an increase in HOMA-R was observed (1.01 +/- 0.61 vs 1.43 +/- 0.83; P =.002). However, changes in adiponectinemia did not significantly correlate with serum creatinine or HOMA-R. CONCLUSION: The kidneys seem to play an important role in adiponectin biodegradation and/or elimination.

Adiponectin↗

The fat-derived hormone adiponectin reverses insulin resistance associated with both lipoatrophy and obesity.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone. Recent genome-wide scans have mapped a susceptibility locus for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome to chromosome 3q27, where the gene encoding adiponectin is located. Here we show that decreased expression of adiponectin correlates with insulin resistance in mouse models of altered insulin sensitivity. Adiponectin decreases insulin resistance by decreasing triglyceride content in muscle and liver in obese mice. This effect results from increased expression of molecules involved in both fatty-acid combustion and energy dissipation in muscle. Moreover, insulin resistance in lipoatrophic mice was completely reversed by the combination of physiological doses of adiponectin and leptin, but only partially by either adiponectin or leptin alone. We conclude that decreased adiponectin is implicated in the development of insulin resistance in mouse models of both obesity and lipoatrophy. These data also indicate that the replenishment of adiponectin might provide a novel treatment modality for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Adiponectin↗

Decrease in serum adiponectin level due to obesity and visceral fat accumulation in children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum adiponectin is decreased in obesity and is restored toward normal level after treatment in children. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Subjects were 53 Japanese obese children, 33 boys and 20 girls (6 to 14 years old), and 30 age-matched nonobese controls for measuring adiponectin (16 boys and 14 girls). Blood was drawn after an overnight fast, and the obese children were subjected to anthropometric measurements including waist and hip circumferences and skinfold thicknesses. Paired samples were obtained from 21 obese children who underwent psychoeducational therapy. Visceral adipose tissue area was measured by computed tomography. Adiponectin was assayed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, uric acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, apo B, apo B/apo A(1), and insulin in obese children were higher than the reference values. Serum adiponectin level was lower in the obese children than in the controls (6.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 10.2 +/- 0.8 mg/L, means +/- SEM, p < 0.001). In 21 obese children whose percent overweight declined during therapy, the adiponectin level increased (p = 0.002). The adiponectin level was correlated inversely with visceral adipose tissue area in obese children (r = -0.531, p < 0.001). The inverse correlations of adiponectin with alanine aminotransferase, uric acid, and insulin were significant after being adjusted for percentage overweight, percentage body fat, or sex. DISCUSSION: Serum adiponectin level is decreased in obese children depending on the accumulation of visceral fat and is restored toward normal level by slimming.

Adiponectin↗

Lower serum adiponectin levels in African-American boys.

OBJECTIVE: To examine adiponectin, an adipocyte-secreted hormone with anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects, in relation to race or gender in younger subjects. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The relationship of adiponectin, quantitated by radioimmunoassay, to anthropometric and metabolic factors (fasting insulin, glucose, and leptin) and reproductive hormones was examined in 46 healthy African Americans (25 girls/21 boys) and 40 whites (20 girls/20 boys) ranging in age from 12 to 21 years. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in BMI or in BMI percentile among the four groups. Sums of skinfolds, but not skinfold percentile, were significantly lower in boys than girls (p = 0.001 and p = 0.896, respectively), whereas there was no difference between racial groups. Leptin was significantly greater in girls (p = 0.0002). There was no difference in fasting serum glucose, insulin, or homeostasis model assessment score among any of the groups. There was a significant negative univariate relationship between serum adiponectin and both BMI and BMI percentile for the entire group (p = 0.006 and p = 0.005). In a multivariate model, BMI percentile (p = 0.005) and the interaction between race and gender (p = 0.026) were significant predictors of serum adiponectin. In this model, African-American boys had the lowest serum adiponectin level, 37% less than white boys, who had the highest adiponectin levels. DISCUSSION: Serum adiponectin levels are reduced in young obese subjects (African Americans and whites) and are lower in African-American boys than white boys. A lower adiponectin level in African-American boys may predispose this group to a greater risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Adiponectin↗

Plasma adiponectin levels and metabolic factors in nondiabetic adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship of plasma adiponectin levels with various anthropometric and metabolic factors has been surveyed extensively in adults. However, how plasma adiponectin levels are related to various anthropometric indices and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents is not as vigorously studied. In this study, we investigated this among healthy nondiabetic adolescents. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Two hundred thirty nondiabetic subjects (125 boys and 105 girls, approximately 10 to 19 years old) were included. The plasma adiponectin, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, lipids and anthropometric indices including body height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were examined. Body fat mass (FM) and percentage were obtained from DXA scan. The homeostasis model assessment was applied to estimate the degree of insulin resistance. RESULTS: The plasma adiponectin levels were significantly higher in girls (30.79 +/- 14.48 micro g/mL) than boys (22.87 +/- 11.41 micro g/mL). The plasma adiponectin levels were negatively related to BMI, FM, FM percentage, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, insulin resistance, plasma insulin, triglycerides, and uric acid levels, but positively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with the adjustment for age and gender. Using different multivariate linear regression models, only age and HDL-C were consistently related to the plasma adiponectin levels after adjustment for the other variables. DISCUSSION: The relationship between plasma adiponectin and various anthropometric indices and metabolic factors, especially HDL-C, previously reported in adults was present in the healthy nondiabetic adolescents. Whether variation of plasma adiponectin levels in healthy nondiabetic adolescents may influence their future coronary artery disease risk warrants further investigation.

Adiponectin↗

Plasma adiponectin levels in high risk African-Americans with normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance, and type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: We studied plasma adiponectin, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion before and after oral glucose challenge in normal glucose tolerant, impaired glucose tolerant, and type 2 diabetic first degree relatives of African-American patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We studied 19 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 8 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 14 with type 2 diabetes. Serum glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and plasma adiponectin levels were measured before and 2 hours after oral glucose tolerance test. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and HOMA-beta cell function were calculated in each subject using HOMA. We empirically defined insulin sensitivity as HOMA-IR<2.68 and insulin resistance as HOMA-IR>2.68. RESULTS: Subjects with IGT and type 2 diabetes were more insulin resistant (as assessed by HOMA-IR) when compared with NGT subjects. Mean plasma fasting adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the type 2 diabetes group when compared with NGT and IGT groups. Plasma adiponectin levels were 2-fold greater (11.09+/-4.98 vs. 6.42+/-3.3811 microg/mL) in insulin-sensitive (HOMA-IR, 1.74+/-0.65) than in insulin-resistant (HOMA-IR, 5.12+/-2.14) NGT subjects. Mean plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the glucose tolerant, insulin-resistant subjects than in the insulin sensitive NGT subjects and were comparable with those of the patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. We found significant inverse relationships of adiponectin with HOMA-IR (r=-0.502, p=0.046) and with HOMA-beta cell function (r=-0.498, p=0.042) but not with the percentage body fat (r=-0.368, p=0.063), serum glucose, BMI, age, and glycosylated hemoglobin A1C (%A1C). DISCUSSION: In summary, we found that plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in insulin-resistant, non-diabetic first degree relatives of African-American patients with type 2 diabetes and in those with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. We conclude that a decreased plasma adiponectin and insulin resistance coexist in a genetically prone subset of first degree African-American relatives before development of IGT and type 2 diabetes.

Adiponectin↗

Comparison of body fat composition and serum adiponectin levels in diabetic obesity and non-diabetic obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical aspects of diabetes and obesity are somewhat different, even at similar levels of insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in body fat distribution and serum adiponectin concentrations in diabetic and non-diabetic obese participants. We were also interested in identifying the characteristics of insulin resistance in these two groups, particularly from the standpoint of adiponectin. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Adiponectin concentrations of 112 type 2 diabetic obese participants and 124 non-diabetic obese participants were determined. Abdominal adipose tissue areas and midthigh skeletal muscle areas were measured by computed tomography. A homeostasis model assessment of the insulin resistance score was calculated to assess insulin sensitivity. The relationships among serum adiponectin, body fat distribution, and clinical characteristics were also analyzed. RESULTS: Both abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat areas were higher in the non-diabetic obese group, whereas midthigh low-density muscle area was higher in the diabetic obese group. The homeostasis model assessment of the insulin resistance score was similar between groups, whereas serum adiponectin was lower in the diabetic obese group. Abdominal visceral fat (beta = -0.381, p = 0.012) was a more important predictor of adiponectin concentration than low-density muscle (beta = -0.218, p = 0.026) in cases of non-diabetic obesity, whereas low-density muscle (beta = -0.413, p = 0.013) was a better predictor of adiponectin level than abdominal visceral fat (beta = - 0.228, p = 0.044) in diabetic obese patients. DISCUSSION: Therefore, factors involved in pathophysiology, including different serum adiponectin levels and body fat distributions, are believed to be responsible for differences in clinical characteristics, even at similar levels of insulin resistance in both diseases.

Adiponectin↗

Adiponectin mRNA levels in the abdominal adipose depots of nondiabetic women.

BACKGROUND: The human adiponectin gene has been implicated in the pathophysiology of obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Investigation of the physiological functions of the adiponectin gene in humans was mainly conducted at the levels of plasma proteins or DNA polymorphisms. The depot-specific adiponectin mRNA levels also could be relevant to these physiological functions. OBJECTIVES: The relation between the adipose depot-specific adiponectin mRNA expression levels and various metabolic factors, including BMI, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, triglycerides (TGs) and HDL-cholesterol and insulin resistance index by HOMA, was investigated among 66 nondiabetic women using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: The subcutaneous relative adiponectin mRNA levels (SRAmR) correlated significantly with the omental relative adiponectin mRNA levels (ORAmR) (gamma=0.468, P=0.0001). The SRAmR correlated inversely with the fasting plasma glucose with a borderline significance (gamma=-0.35, P=0.058). On the other hand, the ORAmR correlated negatively with serum TG levels with the adjustment for age (gamma=-0.33, P=0.007) or age plus BMI (gamma=-0.27, P=0.027). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the adiponectin mRNA levels in different adipose depots were at least related to certain phenotypes of metabolic syndrome. The expression levels of adiponectin in the omental adipose depots are related to TG metabolism.

Abdomen↗

Effects of marked weight loss on plasma levels of adiponectin, markers of chronic subclinical inflammation and insulin resistance in morbidly obese women.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is linked to the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS), type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease. Markers of chronic subclinical inflammation such as high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are closely related to insulin resistance and obesity. Recent evidence suggests that adiponectin, a protein whose circulating levels are decreased in obesity, has anti-inflammatory properties, and also appears to enhance potently insulin action and therefore appears to function as a signal produced by adipose tissue that influences whole-body glucose metabolism. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal association of adiponectin with CRP and IL-6 in 41 morbidly obese women with different stages of glucose tolerance before and 17 months after significant weight loss induced by gastric surgery. Adiponectin was measured by RIA. CRP and IL-6 were determined by commercially available ELISA systems. RESULTS: Weight loss induced a significant shift from T2D (preoperatively 34% vs postoperatively 2%) to impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (37% preoperatively vs 30% postoperatively) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) (29% preoperatively vs 68% postoperatively). Preoperatively adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with CRP (r=-0.59, P<0.0006), IL-6 (r=-0.42, P<0.02) and leukocytes (r=-0.41, P<0.007). After gastroplasty, adiponectin concentrations increased significantly (15.4+/-8.2 vs 19.8+/-6.2 microg/ml, P<0.005) associated with changes of weight and body mass index (r=-0.45, P<0.007; r=-0.35, P<0.04). Furthermore, preoperative CRP was significantly associated with changes in adiponectin even after adjustment for sex, age, preoperative body mass index (BMI) impaired glucose metabolism and changes in BMI and changes in BMI (standardized beta 0.61, P=0.005). CONCLUSION: Levels of adiponectin, which are associated with markers of chronic subclinical inflammation, could be significantly increased after weight loss in morbidly obese patients. This increase was more pronounced in patients with NGT compared to those with T2D and IGT. Preoperative levels of CRP are predictive for changes of adiponectin after weight loss.

Adiponectin↗

Linkage analysis of circulating levels of adiponectin in Hispanic children.

INTRODUCTION: Adiponectin, a hormone produced exclusively by adipose tissue, is inversely associated with insulin resistance and proinflammatory conditions. The aim of this study was to find quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that affect circulating levels of adiponectin in Hispanic children participating in the VIVA LA FAMILIA Study by use of a systematic genome scan. METHODS: The present study included extended families with at least one overweight child between 4 and 19 years old. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI) 95th percentile. Fasting blood was collected from 466 children from 127 families. Adiponectin was assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique in fasting serum. A genome-wide scan on circulating levels of adiponectin as a quantitative phenotype was conducted using the variance decomposition approach. RESULTS: The highest logarithm of odds (LOD) score (4.2) was found on chromosome 11q23.2-11q24.2, and a second significant signal (LOD score=3.0) was found on chromosome 8q12.1-8q21.3. In addition, a signal suggestive of linkage (LOD score=2.5) was found between 18q21.3 and 18q22.3. After adjustment for BMI-Z score, the LOD score on chromosome 11 remained unchanged, but the signals on chromosomes 8 and 18 dropped to 1.6 and 1.7, respectively. Two other signals suggestive of linkage were found on chromosome 3 (LOD score=2.1) and 10 (LOD score=2.5). Although the region on chromosome 11 has been associated with obesity and diabetes-related traits in adult populations, this is the first observation of linkage in this region for adiponectin levels. Our suggestive linkages on chromosomes 10 and 3 replicate results for adiponectin seen in other populations. The influence of loci on chromosomes 18 and 8 on circulating adiponectin seemed to be mediated by BMI in the present study. CONCLUSION: Our genome scan in children has identified a novel QTL and replicated QTLs in chromosomal regions previously shown to be linked with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D)-related phenotypes in adults. The genetic contribution of loci to adiponectin levels may vary across different populations and age groups. The strong linkage signal on chromosome 11 is most likely underlain by a gene(s) that may contribute to the high susceptibility of these Hispanic children to obesity and T2D.

Adiponectin↗

A fat-enriched, glucose-enriched diet markedly attenuates adiponectin mRNA levels in rat epididymal adipose tissue.

Adiponectin levels are decreased in subjects with obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease. In the present study, we have investigated whether the decrease in the levels and mRNA expression of adiponectin is due to obesity or to the diet itself. Wistar rats were either fed standard laboratory chow throughout (controls) or given a fat-enriched, glucose-enriched diet (diet-fed) for 2 days or 16 weeks. After 2 days of diet feeding, total body weight, fat pad masses and the plasma levels of glucose, insulin and leptin were all comparable between the two groups, while plasma NEFA (non-esterified fatty acid) and triacylglycerol levels were increased in the diet-fed animals (P<0.01 for both). There was a marked (P<0.01) decrease in plasma adiponectin levels. After 16 weeks of diet feeding, diet-fed rats had significantly higher body weight, fat pad mass and plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin, NEFA and triacylglycerol (P<0.001 for all) compared with chow-fed controls, whereas plasma levels of glucose and insulin were similar in the two groups. After 2 days of diet feeding, there were no significant changes in Ob mRNA levels in epididymal fat, whereas there was a marked decrease in adiponectin mRNA levels. After 16 weeks of diet feeding, rats had significantly increased levels of Ob mRNA, but decreased adiponectin mRNA levels, in epididymal fat compared with the chow-fed group (P<0.001 for both). These findings suggest that obesity per se is not a factor in the decreased adiponectin levels observed in obese subjects. We propose that the lipid profile of the plasma and/or the constituents of the diet consumed by rats may contribute to adiponectin levels more than obesity per se.

Adiponectin↗

An increase in plasma adiponectin multimeric complexes follows hypocaloric diet-induced weight loss in obese and overweight pre-menopausal women.

Adiponectin is involved in the regulation of glucose and fatty acid metabolism, influences whole-body insulin sensitivity and protects arterial walls against the development of atherosclerosis. Plasma adiponectin is decreased in obese, insulin-resistant and Type 2 diabetic patients. Adiponectin circulates in plasma as high-, medium- and low-molecular-weight ('mass') forms (HMW, MMW and LMW respectively). The HMW form is believed to be closely associated with insulin sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether diet-induced changes in body weight and insulin sensitivity were associated with changes in the quantity of adiponectin multimeric complexes. A total of 20 overweight or obese women (age, 39.4+/-9.5 years; body mass index, 32.2+/-6.4 kg/m(2)) underwent 12 weeks of low caloric diet (600 kcal/day less than energy requirements; where 1 kcal is approximately 4.184 kJ). Plasma samples were drawn before and after the study for biochemical analysis and Western blot detection of adiponectin multimeric complexes. The hypocaloric diet resulted in a weight reduction (89.8+/-16.4 kg compared with 83.1+/-15.6 kg; P<0.001) and an improvement in whole-body insulin sensitivity, as measured by HOMA (homoeostasis model assessment index; 1.9+/-0.8 compared with 1.5+/-0.7; P=0.013). Increases in the quantities of the HMW, MMW and LMW forms by 5.5, 8.5 and 18.1% respectively, were observed (P<0.05 for all of the forms). Total plasma adiponectin was increased by 36% with borderline significance (P=0.08). No correlations between changes in adiponectin complexes and changes in indices of insulin sensitivity were observed. In conclusion, diet-induced weight loss improved insulin sensitivity as well as increased the amount of HMW, MMW and LMW adiponectin complexes in plasma.

Adiponectin↗

Insulin decreases human adiponectin plasma levels.

Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are known atherosclerosis risk factors. The association between adiponectin plasma levels and obesity, insulinemia, and atherosclerosis has been shown. Thus, adiponectin may be a link between hyperinsulinemia and vascular disease. In vitro data demonstrated a reduction of adiponectin expression by insulin. However, it is still unclear whether insulin regulates adiponectinemia in vivo in humans. Five healthy male volunteers were studied. Circulating adiponectin levels were determined before and during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Adiponectin was measured by radioimmunoassay. Hyperinsulinemia (85.0 +/- 33.2 at baseline vs. 482.8 +/- 64.4 pmol/l during steady state; p < 0.01) was achieved using a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, keeping blood glucose levels basically unchanged during the intervention (4.6 +/- 0.14 vs. 4.37 +/- 0.15 mmol/l, respectively; ns). We found a significant decrease of adiponectin plasma levels during the steady state of hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (26.7 +/- 3.5 micro g/ml) compared to baseline levels (30.4 +/- 5 micro g/ml; p < 0.05). Hyperinsulinemia caused a significant decrease of adiponectin plasma levels under euglycemic conditions. Considering existing data about adiponectin dependent effects, hypoadiponectinemia might at least partly be a link between hyperinsulinemia and vascular disease in metabolic syndrome.

Adiponectin↗