Adipokines and Cardiometabolic Risk in South Asian Americans: Findings from the MASALA Study

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Endocrinology
• Population Health

Background:

• South Asian Americans experience a high burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
• Adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, resistin) are implicated in ASCVD risk, but their role in South Asian Americans is understudied.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for targeted cardiovascular risk reduction strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between adipokine levels and adipokine indices with cardiometabolic risk factors in South Asian Americans.
• To analyze associations with prevalent hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes within the MASALA cohort.
• To explore potential gender-specific differences in these associations.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 891 South Asian American adults from the MASALA cohort.
• Multivariable regression models assessed associations between adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, resistin), adipokine ratios, and cardiometabolic outcomes.
• Adjustments were made for demographics, lifestyle, adiposity, and inflammatory markers; gender interactions were examined.

Main Results:

• Higher adiponectin correlated with lower odds of dyslipidemia overall and diabetes in women.
• Resistin showed an inverse association with diabetes in men.
• The adiponectin-resistin index was linked to increased odds of dyslipidemia and diabetes in women; leptin and adiponectin/leptin ratio showed no significant associations.

Conclusions:

• Adiponectin and the adiponectin-resistin index are associated with dyslipidemia and diabetes in South Asian American women.
• Resistin is inversely associated with diabetes in South Asian American men.
• These findings underscore the importance of adipokine profiles in understanding cardiometabolic risk within the South Asian American population.