Adiponectin Levels and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Japanese Men with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Abstract. Several cardiovascular risk factors correlate with adiponectin levels. It is not known whether total homocysteine, folate and g-glutamyl transferase levels correlate with adiponectin. We cross-sectionally analyzed the association between adiponectin and these cardiovascular risk factors in diabetic patients. One hundred and two male inpatients with type 2 diabetes without overt nephropathy or insulin use were studied. In a regression analysis of the quartiles of adiponectin, plasma levels of adiponectin were associated positively with HDL-cholesterol and age, and inversely with body mass index and HbA 1c , but not with total homocysteine, folate or g-glutamyl transferase. Nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors such as homocysteine and folate levels were not associated with adiponectin levels in male type 2 diabetic patients who are not subject to insulin therapy. ADIPONECTIN is a recently identified protein which is produced exclusively by adipocytes [1]. Elevated adiponectin levels are associated with lower risk of atherosclerotic disease [2]. Recent studies show that it has both anti-atherogenic [3,4] and anti-diabetic properties [3][4][5][6]. This may be due to the beneficial effects of adiponectin on metabolic factors. Adiponectin is positively associated with physical activity, age and HDL-cholesterol and inversely with body mass index (BMI) and HbA 1C [7][8][9]. But, it is not known whether some other cardiovascular risk factors, including total homocysteine (tHcy), folate and g-glutamyl transferase (g-GT), correlate with adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetic patients. It has been shown that high tHcy [10,11], low folate [12,13] and high g-GT [14] predict cardiovascular disease. It is suggested that association between tHcy and cardiovascular disease is stronger in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic subjects [15,16].In the present study we analyzed the association between these cardiovascular risk factors and adiponectin levels in male type 2 diabetic patients. Since insulin affects adiponectin [17] and tHcy [18,19], diabetic patients who are not subject to insulin therapy were studied. Materials and MethodsOne hundred and two Japanese male inpatients with type 2 diabetes who were not subject to insulin therapy were studied. Patients who showed overt nephropathy (serum creatinine>1.2 mg/dl) were excluded from the study because renal dysfunction might elevate adiponectin [20] and tHcy [21]. Blood samples were collected early in the morning. Plasma fast glucose and immunoreactive insulin, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine and g-GT, and HbA 1C and white blood cell (WBC) count were measured. Plasma adiponectin levels were measured using human adiponectin ELISA Kit (Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.,

Genetic Influences of Adiponectin on Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease

“…Administration of recombinant adenovirus expressing human adiponectin to apoE-deficient animals causes a 30% reduction in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions in the absence of any effects on metabolic traits (83,84). Consistent with these findings, men with adiponectin levels in the highest quartile have been shown to have a significantly lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than men with adiponectin levels in the lowest quartile, independently of other cardiovascular risk factors or systemic inflammation markers (85,86). Studies of the association between adiponectin polymorphisms and cardiovascular outcomes have not been as numerous as those concerning adiponectin levels or metabolic traits, but the overall number of study subjects is such that some preliminary conclusions can be drawn.…”

Association of Circulating Levels of Leptin and Adiponectin With Metabolic Syndrome and Coronary Heart Disease in Patients With Various Coronary Risk Factors

“…These results are consistent with reported findings. [22][23][24] We observed a lower serum level of adiponectin in MetS groups than in non-MetS groups. Serum levels of adiponectin correlating with serum HDL-C levels showed that serum adiponectin as well as HDL-C were lower in CHD patients than in non-CHD patients, findings which were consistent with previously reported findings that circulating levels of adiponectin were lower in patients with CHD than in controls, even when BMI and age were matched.…”

Effect of Exercise on Circulating Adipokine Levels in Obese Young Women

“…The present results also demonstrated that circulating adiponectin levels were significantly decreased in the obese young women. Adiponectin levels have also been found to decline concurrently with progression of insulin resistance [29], and to decrease in middle-aged subjects who have obesity, cardiovascular risk factors, coronary artery disease or type 2 diabetes [30][31][32]. Although it is not clear whether long-standing low adiponectin levels from an early age has an adverse effect, it appears of great importance to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the low adiponectin levels not only in middle-aged subjects but also in young subjects to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.…”