Plasma adiponectin levels and risk of myocardial infarction in men.
BACKGROUND
Adiponectin, a recently discovered adipocyte-derived peptide, is involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and lipid oxidation and, purportedly, in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease in humans.


OBJECTIVE
To assess prospectively whether plasma adiponectin concentrations are associated with risk of myocardial infarction (MI).


METHODS
Nested case-control study among 18 225 male participants of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study aged 40 to 75 years who were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease at the time of blood draw (1993-1995). During 6 years of follow-up through January 31, 2000, 266 men subsequently developed nonfatal MI or fatal coronary heart disease. Using risk set sampling, controls were selected in a 2:1 ratio matched for age, date of blood draw, and smoking status (n = 532).


METHODS
Incidence of nonfatal MI and fatal coronary heart disease by adiponectin level.


RESULTS
After adjustment for matched variables, participants in the highest compared with the lowest quintile of adiponectin levels had a significantly decreased risk of MI (relative risk [RR], 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.64; P for trend <.001). Additional adjustment for family history of MI, body mass index, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and history of diabetes and hypertension did not substantively affect this relationship (RR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.24-0.70; P for trend <.001). Further adjustment for hemoglobin A1c or C-reactive protein levels also had little impact, but additional adjustment for low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels modestly attenuated this association (RR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.32-0.99; P for trend =.02).


CONCLUSIONS
High plasma adiponectin concentrations are associated with lower risk of MI in men. This relationship can be only partly explained by differences in blood lipids and is independent of inflammation and glycemic status.
Pischon
Tobias
T
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Channing Laboratory, Boston, Mass 02115, USA. tpischon@hsph.harvard.edu
Girman
Cynthia J
CJ
Hotamisligil
Gokhan S
GS
Rifai
Nader
N
Hu
Frank B
FB
Rimm
Eric B
EB
D052242:Adiponectin; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein