Adiponectin Relationship with Lipid Metabolism Is Independent of Body Fat Mass: Evidence from Both Cross-Sectional and Intervention Studies

Abstract

Adiponectin influences insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism, but it is not clear whether these effects are correlated with fat mass or distribution. We studied the relationship between plasma adiponectin and leptin levels, insulin sensitivity, and serum lipids by a cross-sectional study (n = 242 subjects) and by an intervention study (95 of 242) to evaluate the effect of weight loss (WL). Considering all subjects both together and subdivided into nonobese (n = 107) and obese (n = 135) groups, plasma adiponectin, but not plasma leptin, was significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with insulin sensitivity [homeostasis model assessment of insulin-resistance index (HOMAIR), insulin sensitivity index (ISI) at oral glucose tolerance test, and clamp in 115 of 242 individuals], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. These relationships were still significant (P < 0.01) after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and ISI. After WL (-16.8 +/- 0.8%), plasma adiponectin increased, and plasma leptin decreased (P < 0.0001 for both). Their changes (Delta) were significantly correlated with Delta-BMI (P < 0.05 for both). Delta-Adiponectin, but not Delta-leptin, significantly (P < 0.001) correlated with Delta-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and Delta-triglycerides; these correlations were independent of age, gender, Delta-BMI, and Delta-ISI (P < 0.005). In conclusion, both cross-sectional and intervention studies indicate that plasma adiponectin level correlates with serum lipids independently of fat mass. The intervention study also suggests that adiponectin increase after WL is correlated with serum lipid improvement independently of insulin sensitivity changes.

The role of total and high-molecular-weight complex of adiponectin in vascular function in offspring whose parents both had type 2 diabetes

“…Furthermore, we corroborated the strong relationship previously described between adiponectin and HDLcholesterol [13,47,48]. HDL-cholesterol is an important predictor of endothelial function [49][50][51][52][53].…”

“…Our study demonstrates that in offspring of diabetic parents HDL-cholesterol correlates highly with adiponectin, an association previously reported in healthy [13,14], obese [47] and type 2 diabetic subjects [48]. The link between HDL-cholesterol and EDV that we demonstrate is well established: multiple studies show low HDLcholesterol is highly predictive of endothelial dysfunction in healthy and diabetic subjects [49][50][51][52][53], and in experimental models where HDL-cholesterol is raised acutely, EDV normalises [58].…”

Metabolic and behavioral responses to high-fat feeding in mice selectively bred for high wheel-running activity

“…Recently, we observed that males from this breeding line have higher plasma adiponectin levels in the adult and aged state when they were eating a regular highcarbohydrate diet (HCD) and this difference was found in animals with or without access to running wheels. 15 Given that adiponectin is known to facilitate triglyceride breakdown, [20][21][22] it might be hypothesized that these animals are resistant to HFD-induced obesityFover and above the effects of increased energy expenditure caused by elevated spontaneous activity. Thus, in this study, female and male mice from a line bred for high spontaneous wheel-running activity and from a nonselected control line were exposed to an HFD with two main objectives: (1) to test the hypothesis that a trait for high spontaneous physical activity can cause resistance to obesity and other indicators of the metabolic syndrome (2) and to investigate the potential behavioral, endocrine and metabolic mechanisms underlying this resistance.…”

The ‘beneficial’ adipokines in reproduction and fertility

“…10 Its secretion is inversely related to the mass of adipose tissue, 19 and its circulating concentrations become more abundant with dietary restriction and weight loss. 20 Much less is known about the remaining three potentially beneficial adipokines. A screen for differential expression between subcutaneous and visceral fat revealed a second adipokine with insulin mimetic effects, named visfatin.…”