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(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2006;26:2758.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins

Plasma Adiponectin Levels in Relation to Carotid Intima Media Thickness and Markers of Insulin Resistance

Peter M. Nilsson; Gunnar Engström; Bo Hedblad; Jan Frystyk; Margaretha M. Persson; Göran Berglund; Allan Flyvbjerg

From Department of Clinical Sciences Medicine (P.M.N., G.E., B.H., G.B.), University Hospital, University of Lund, Malmö, Sweden; Clinical Research Unit Medicine (P.M.N., M.M.P., G.B.), University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden; Epidemiological Research Group (B.H.), University Hospital, Malmö; and Medical Research Laboratories (J.F., A.F.), Clinical Institute and Medical Department M (Diabetes and Endocrinology), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Correspondence to Peter M. Nilsson, MD, PhD, Department of Clinical Sciences Medicine, University Hospital, S-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. E-mail Peter.Nilsson{at}med.lu.se

Background— Circulating adiponectin is a marker for insulin sensitivity, derived from fat cells. It is largely unknown if adiponectin is also an independent marker for early atherosclerosis.

Methods and Results— Plasma adiponectin levels were measured in 373 men and 514 women of middle-age by a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay. The subjects were sampled stratified for degree of insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR). An ultrasound measurement of the right common carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) was made. When the distribution of adiponectin was stratified into sex-specific quartiles (Q1 to Q4), men in Q4 differed from Q1 in higher mean age and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, but lower blood pressure, HbA_1c, HOMA-index, and body mass index. Women showed similar associations. Mean IMT for men was significantly lower (P=0.03) in adiponectin Q4 as compared with Q1 when adjusted for age, waist, smoking, HDL cholesterol, and diastolic blood pressure. When adding HbA_1c and HOMA to the model, the association was no longer significant (P=0.15). In women no difference in IMT was noticed across adiponectin quartiles.

Conclusion— Plasma adiponectin is a marker of glucose metabolism and obesity and shows an inverse age-adjusted association with carotid ultrasound IMT in men, but not in women. This association is attenuated after adjustments for other risk factors.

Plasma adiponectin is a marker of glucose metabolism and obesity and shows an inverse age-adjusted association with carotid ultrasound IMT in men, but not in women, selected for varying degree of insulin resistance (HOMA) in a population-based study (n=887). This association is attenuated after adjustment for metabolic risk factors.

Key Words: adiponectin • atherosclerosis • glucose • IMT • insulin • obesity

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