Abstract
Background:
We investigated the association of plasma adiponectin levels with longitudinal changes in metabolic syndrome and the metabolic syndrome–related traits [insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)], as well as their genetic and environmental correlations.
Methods:
A total of 1030 Koreans (380 men and 650 women; 44.0±12.7 years old) without diabetes of the Healthy Twin Study visited at baseline (2005–2010) and returned for a follow-up examination 3.7±1.2 years later. Baseline plasma adiponectin, metabolic syndrome components [waist circumference (WC), glucose, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TGs)] and metabolic syndrome–related traits were measured at baseline and follow-up.
Results:
After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, caloric intake, education level, body mass index (BMI), family history of diabetes, and changes in BMI, 1 standard deviation increment in baseline adiponectin levels was associated with 38–63% lower odds of incident and persistent metabolic syndrome. After additionally adjusting for the baseline levels of each trait, baseline adiponectin levels were inversely associated with WC, blood pressure, insulin, HOMA-IR, and TGs values at follow-up. After adjusting for age, sex, and baseline values of each trait or sum of metabolic syndrome components, baseline adiponectin levels exhibited significantly inverse genetic and environmental correlations with insulin, HOMA-IR, and HDL-C values and the sum of metabolic syndrome components at follow-up.
Conclusions:
High adiponectin levels reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and having persistent metabolic syndrome and increase of metabolic syndrome–related traits over time. These associations may be explained by pleiotropic genetic mechanisms.
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