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Higher adiponectin levels found among metabolically healthy adults
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In white adults with and without obesity, better metabolic health is associated with higher adiponectin levels and lower waist-to-hip ratios, according to recent study findings published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Srividya Kidambi, MD, MS, of the Medial College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and colleagues evaluated 2,486 white adult members and family members of members (72% women; 61% with obesity) of the “Take Off Pounds Sensibly” weight loss club to determine the relationship between adiponectin levels and adiposity distribution with metabolic health.
Srividya Kidambi
Participants were further divided into four groups: metabolically healthy without obesity (MHNO; n = 248), metabolically unhealthy without obesity (MUNO; n = 694), metabolically unhealthy with obesity (MUO; n = 1,443) and metabolically healthy with obesity (MHO; n = 101).
After comparing all four groups, the researchers found that the MHNO group had the highest adiponectin levels, and the MUO group had the lowest (P < .001). No differences in adiponectin levels were found between the two metabolically healthy groups.
Similarly, after comparing all four groups, the researchers found that the MHNO group had the lowest waist-to-hip ratio and the MUO group had the highest (P < .001).
Compared with all metabolically unhealthy participants, metabolically healthy participants had the highest adiponectin levels (P < .01).
An association was found between hyperadiponectinemia and higher HDL-cholesterol levels and a lower prevalence of dyslipidemia in participants with and without obesity. The researchers also found lower levels of homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) among participants with and without obesity with hyperadiponectinemia compared with participants without hyperadiponectinemia.
“This study confirms previous associations of adiponectin with metabolic health indicators in obese individuals and for the first time in nonobese individuals as well,” the researchers wrote. “Obese individuals ... who do not fit the usual phenotype with metabolic abnormalities (ie, metabolically healthy obese) are of particular interest, and understanding why certain obese individuals remain free of metabolic disarray could help us better recognize who is susceptible to obesity-related diseases.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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