Adiponectin Inversely Correlates with High Sensitive C-reactive Protein and Triglycerides, but not with Insulin Sensitivity, in Apparently Healthy Japanese Men

Abstract

Abstract. Adiponectin, an antiatherogenic peptide, has diverse biological actions on insulin sensitivity, inflammation and lipid metabolism. To explore physiological and pathophysiological significance of adiponectin in the Japanese general population, we systematically analyzed the relationship between adiponectin and high sensitive CRP (hsCRP), lipids, insulin sensitivity, and anthropometric parameters in 166 consecutive adult male health examinees. By univariate analysis, serum adiponectin was positively correlated with age and HDL-cholesterol, and inversely correlated with fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin-resistance, waist, body mass index, triglycerides and hsCRP. However, multivariate analysis revealed that adiponectin independently correlated with triglycerides (r = -0.243, P = 0.0033) and hsCRP (r = -0.262, P = 0.0015) but not with all other variables. Adiponectin was lower and hsCRP higher in the subjects with metabolic syndrome (n = 22) than in those without it (n = 144) (adiponectin, 5.4 ± 2.8 vs 7.5 ± 4.2 µg/ml, p = 0.002; hsCRP, 832 ± 605 vs 470 ± 524 ng/ml, p = 0.0004). Current findings suggest that relative importance of hypertriglyceridemia and enhanced inflammation, rather than insulin resistance, as the downstream events of hypoadiponectinemia leading to atherosclerosis in the Japanese general population.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) may be superior to anthropometric parameters as a marker of metabolic consequences due to obesity. Comment on the article by Komatsu et al.

“…In accord with our results Fig. 1 in the report by Komatsu et al [1] shows that the CRP values of the subjects with two or less components of metabolic syndrome are less than 0.65 mg/L and those values of the subjects with three or more components of the syndrome are higher than 0.65 mg/L though the cut point of waist circumference is problematic.…”

“…Komatsu et al reported that adiponectin showed significant independent correlation with triglycerides and CRP but not with HDL-cholesterol, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, waist circumference, or BMI in multivariate analysis among Japanese male health examinees and that adiponectin was lower and CRP was higher in the subjects with metabolic syndrome than in those without it (adiponectin, 5.4 ± 2.8 vs 7.5 ± 4.2 µg/mL, p = 0.002; CRP, 0.832 ± 0.605 vs 0.470 ± 0.524 mg/L, p = 0.0004) [1]. Kim et al reported a model of morbid obesity associated with an improved metabolic profile in which adiponectin acts as a peripheral starvation signal promoting the storage of triglycerides preferentially in adipose tissue and reduces the macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue preventing systemic inflammation and insulin resistance [2].…”

Circulating adiponectin levels are associated with peak oxygen uptake in Japanese

“…High-intensity interval training positively changed adiponectin levels in obese adolescent girls [18]. In addition, circulating adiponectin levels were correlated with body weight, BMI, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol as previously reported [30,31]. Taken together, peak oxygen uptake rather than physical activity may be closely linked to circulating adiponectin levels.…”

Association of Adiponectin with Future Cardiovascular Events in Patients After Acute Myocardial Infarction

“…Data from animal and human studies indicated that adiponectin has insulin-sensitizing, antiatherogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties [11][12][13][14] . Enhanced plasma adiponectin levels are associated with a lower risk of MI in healthy men, decreased CAD in diabetic subjects, and better cardiovascular outcomes in patients with end-stage renal failure [15][16][17] .…”