Total adiponectin in indigenous Melanesians on Kitava

Area of Science:

• Cardiometabolic health research
• Human population studies
• Endocrinology

Background:

• High total adiponectin levels show beneficial cardiometabolic effects in some studies.
• However, epidemiological studies link high adiponectin to increased mortality.
• Contradictory findings necessitate further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate total adiponectin levels in the Kitavan population of Papua New Guinea.
• To compare Kitavan adiponectin levels with those of Swedish controls.
• To explore associations between adiponectin and cardiometabolic risk factors in this unique population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of serum total adiponectin in Kitavans (n=102) and age/sex-matched Swedish controls (n=108).
• Participants were ≥40 years old.
• Multivariable linear regression analysis adjusted for relevant covariates.

Main Results:

• Kitavans exhibited significantly lower total adiponectin levels (Median 4.6 μg/mL) than Swedish controls (Median 9.7 μg/mL).
• Lower adiponectin in Kitavans was associated with their group, male sex (Swedish controls only), smoking, younger age, higher BMI, and altered lipid profiles.
• Specific associations varied between populations and combined analyses.

Conclusions:

• Total adiponectin levels are substantially lower in the Kitavan population compared to Swedish controls.
• These findings highlight population-specific differences in adiponectin levels.
• Further research is needed to reconcile the divergent roles of adiponectin in cardiometabolic health and mortality.