[Adiponectin levels and coronary risk factors in the elderly]

To determine the relationship between adiponectin level and coronary risk factors in men.

The subjects were 395 elderly men in two rural communities (Tanno, Sobetsu) in Japan. Blood pressure in the sitting position (SBP/DBP), after overnight fasting, plasma glucose level (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL cholesterol (HDL) and serum adiponectin were measured. The subjects were divided into two adiponectin level groups, a high adiponectin level (> or = 7.94 microg/ml) group (H-Adipo group) and a normal adiponectin level (< 7.94 microg/ml) group (N-Adipo group), and into two age groups, 70 years of age or older (70 or older group) and less than 70 years of age (under 70 group).

Adiponectin showed negative correlations with BMI, FPG, TC and TG and positive correlations with age, SBP and HDL. In multiple regression analysis using adiponectin as a dependent variable. BMI, SBP, FPG, TG and HDL were selected as independent variables. Age and HDL in the H-Adipo group were significantly higher than those in the N-Adipo group, and BMI, FPG, TC and TG in the H-Adipo group were significantly lower than those in the N-Adipo group. In the 70 or older group. SBP and adiponectin were significantly higher and BMI, DBP, FPG, TC and TG were significantly lower than those in the under 70 group. The mean number of total coronary risk factors in the 70 or older group (1.71) was significantly lower than that in the under 70 group (2.06).

Coronary risk factors other than systolic blood pressure were significantly reduced in the older subjects.