Total adiponectin levels in dyslipidemic individuals: relationship to metabolic parameters and intima-media thickness

Adiponectin is adipocytokin with anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects. However, studies examining the relationship between adiponectin and cardiovascular diseases have shown inconsistent results.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of adiponectin in clinically asymptomatic subjects with various dyslipidemic phenotypes. The associations between adiponectin and risk factors for atherosclerosis, markers of insulin resistance, and the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (IMT) were also evaluated.

234 asymptomatic subjects were divided into four dyslipidemic phenotypes (DLP) according to apolipoprotein B (apoB) and triglycerides (TG): DLP1 (n=58, apoB<1.2 g/l and TG<1.5 mmol/l), DLP2 (n=47, apoB<1.2 g/l and TG≥1.5 mmol/l), DLP3 (n=31, apoB≥1.2 g/l and TG<1.5 mmol/l) and DLP4 (n=98, apoB≥1.2 g/l and TG≥1.5 mmol/l). DLP1 (normo-apoB/normo-TG) served as a control group.

Significant differences in adiponectin levels between normolipidemic phenotype - DLP1 (16.1[10.3-20.8] mg/l) and hypertriglyceridemic phenotypes - DLP2 (9.5[6.8-13.0] mg/l, p<0.01) and DLP4 (10.1[7.4-16.8] mg/l, p<0.01) after adjustment for age, sex and body mass index were found. Adiponectin correlated positively with highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), negatively with triglycerides, apoB/apoA1, highsensitivity C-reactive protein, insulin, homeostasis model assessment and waist circumference. ApoA1 and insulin were detected as independent predictors for adiponectin levels in multivariate regression analysis. Adiponectin did not correlate with IMT.

Individuals with hypertriglyceridemic phenotypes showed decreased adiponectin levels in comparison with normolipidemic subjects. Adiponectin was associated with lipid parameters, markers of insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and visceral obesity. But no association between adiponectin and IMT was found.