The associations between plasma adiponectin, ghrelin levels and cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract

Objective: Ghrelin is a recently discovered peptide, which is produced primarily in the stomach. This orexigenic peptide participates not only in the induction of mealtime hunger but also in long-term body weight regulation and energy homeostasis. Adiponectin is a protein secreted by adipocytes, and has been proposed to mediate obesity-related insulin resistance. Moreover, concentrations of adiponectin are reduced in individuals with obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. However, human data are sparse about the direct relationship between adiponectin, ghrelin and cardiovascular risk factors including insulin resistance. Design: Three hundred and thirty-eight elderly Korean women (mean age^S.D., 72.3^5.5 years) were included in the present study. Methods: Plasma ghrelin and adiponectin levels were measured by RIA. Anthropometric measurements were taken and a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test performed. Fasting insulin and lipid profile were measured and insulin resistance was determined using the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-R) and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. Results: Plasma adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with central obesity indices such as waist circumference (r ¼ 20.27, P , 0.001) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r ¼ 20.32, P , 0.001), and with insulin resistance indices such as fasting insulin (r ¼ 20.17, P ¼ 0.004) and HOMA-R (r ¼ 2 0.13, P ¼ 0.035). Plasma ghrelin levels were negatively correlated with WHR (r ¼ 2 0.12, P ¼ 0.03), but plasma adiponectin and ghrelin levels were not correlated (r ¼ 0.03, P ¼ 0.66). Multiple regression analysis showed that adiponectin was associated with WHR, fasting insulin and fasting glucose levels. When ghrelin was used as a dependent variable, only WHR remained in the final fitted model. Conclusion: Fasting plasma adiponectin and ghrelin levels were found to be associated with central obesity or insulin resistance. However, plasma adiponectin and ghrelin concentrations were not associated with each other in elderly Korean women. 150 715-718 European Journal of Endocrinology

Adiponectin, Non-Esterified Fatty Acids and Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Type II Diabetes Mellitus

“…These include serum insulin, total cholesterol, LDL, apoB100, triglycerides, glucose, HbA1c, lower HDL and smaller LDL particle size (27)(28)(29). Our findings are in concordance with the abovementioned results in regard to the negative correlation between adiponectin and WHR, triglyceride concentrations and HbA1c (only in the female subgroup of patients).…”

Adipocytokine and ghrelin levels in relation to cardiovascular disease risk factors in women at midlife: longitudinal associations

“…Moderately negative associations have been reported between adiponectin levels and blood pressure, lipid fractions and triglycerides in women, [35][36][37] and strong associations with the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. [38][39][40] We observed similar associations.…”

“…38 Continued study into the possible role of ghrelin in CVD risk is needed. No significant longitudinal associations were identified between resistin levels and cardiovascular risk factor changes.…”

Sex-specific determinants of serum adiponectin in older adults: the role of endogenous sex hormones

“…Cnop et al 5 reported higher adiponectin levels at older ages for 182 healthy men and women, aged 32-75 years, although they did not observe a sex difference. Other investigators have found significant adiponectin increments with age for men, 33,42,43 but four of six reported no age-adiponectin association for women. 7,33,[42][43][44][45] The differences among these studies may relate to the more modest association of age with adiponectin in women, or to the size and ethnic composition of the study populations.…”