Gender differences in serum high-molecular-weight adiponectin levels in metabolic syndrome

• Published in: European journal of endocrinology Vol. 168; no. 3; pp. 385 - 391
• Main Authors: Eglit, Triin, Lember, Margus, Ringmets, Inge, Rajasalu, Tarvo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol BioScientifica 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Adiponectin - blood; Adiponectin - chemistry; Adiponectin - deficiency; Adiponectin - metabolism; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Clinical Study; Cross-Sectional Studies; Endocrinopathies; Estonia - epidemiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General Practice; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnosis; Metabolic Syndrome - epidemiology; Metabolic Syndrome - physiopathology; Metabolism, Inborn Errors - etiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Molecular Weight; Other metabolic disorders; Prevalence; Protein Precursors - blood; Protein Precursors - chemistry; Protein Precursors - metabolism; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sex Characteristics; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Young Adult; Endocrinopathy; Clinical biology; Sex; Metabolic diseases; Cardiovascular disease; Metabolic syndrome; Molecular mass; Endocrinology; Comparative study; Adiponectin
• ISSN: 0804-4643; 1479-683X; 1479-683X
• DOI: 10.1530/EJE-12-0688

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to estimate gender-specific associations between metabolic syndrome (MS) and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin in an Estonian adult population.MethodsPlasma HMW adiponectin was measured in 458 subjects (191 men) who participated in a population-based cross-sectional multicenter study (n=495) on the prevalence of metabolic disorders in Estonia. MS was defined according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.ResultsMedian HMW adiponectin levels (μg/ml) were significantly lower among all subjects with MS compared with subjects without MS: 2.1 vs 2.8 in men (P=0.002) and 3.1 vs 5.1 in women (P<0.001). In a fully adjusted, logistic regression model containing HMW adiponectin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), BMI, and age, HMW adiponectin was significantly associated with MS only in women. Comparison of HMW adiponectin and HOMA-IR as markers for MS indicated that HOMA-IR predicted MS better than did HMW adiponectin in both genders. However, after adjusting for age and BMI, HOMA-IR was a significantly better predictor only in men. HMW adiponectin and HOMA-IR predicted the presence of MS at the same level in women. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for HMW adiponectin and HOMA-IR were 0.833 vs 0.88 in men (P=0.02) and 0.897 vs 0.907 in women (P=0.5).ConclusionsThese data suggest that the association between low HMW adiponectin levels and presence of MS might be stronger in women compared with men.