The Relationships of Plasma Adiponectin with a Favorable Lipid Profile, Decreased Inflammation, and Less Ectopic Fat Accumulation Depend

Background: The metabolic effects of adiponectin, in-cluding insulin sensitivity, seem to become stronger with increasing adiposity. Adiposity may also affect the relationship of adiponectin concentrations with serum lipid profile; markers of inflammation, atherosclerosis, and endothelial function; and ectopic fat accumulation. Methods: We measured plasma adiponectin concentra-tions, serum lipids, and serummarkers of inflammation, atherosclerosis, and endothelial function in 242 Cauca-sians without type 2 diabetes. We also measured visceral adipose tissue with magnetic resonance tomography and liver and intramyocellular fat with 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results: We divided the study participants into 2 groups: lean [median (SD) total body fat, 26 % (0.6%); n 119] and obese [36 % (0.6%); n 123]. In the obese group, plasma adiponectin concentrations showed a strong positive association with concentrations of HDL cholesterol (P <0.0001) and negative associations with LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, apolipoprotein B100, soluble E-selectin, soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, leukocyte count, and liver and intramyocellular fat (all P <0.03). In the lean group, adiponectin showed a less strong association with HDL cholesterol (P 0.005) and liver fat (P 0.03) and no significant associations with the other variables (all P>0.10). High visceral adipose tissue was a strong predictor of low adiponectin concentrations, particu-larly in the obese group, and attenuated many of the significant relationships. Conclusions: High adiponectin plasma concentrations are associated with favorable lipid profiles, decreased subclinical inflammation, decreased markers of ath-erosclerosis and endothelial function, and low ectopic fat accumulation, particularly in obese persons. Adi-ponectin may also have a concentration-related effect on the relationship between visceral adipose tissue and these metabolic characteristics, especially in obese persons