Decreased plasma adiponectin concentrations are closely associated with nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis in obese individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether subjects with nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis (HS) differed in their circulating adiponectin levels compared with those in subjects without HS and, if so, to examine to what extent such differences are mediated by the adverse pattern of the metabolic syndrome variables, typically observed in these subjects.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, we analysed 68 healthy, mildly obese individuals with a negative or negligible daily alcohol consumption.


METHODS
HS (by ultrasonography), glucose tolerance status (by oral glucose load), insulin resistance [by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)], and plasma adiponectin concentration [by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] were measured.


RESULTS
Subjects with nonalcoholic HS (n = 43) had markedly lower plasma adiponectin concentrations than those without HS (n = 25) (5.6 +/- 3 vs. 10.8 +/- 4 microg/ml; P < 0.001). In addition, the former had significantly higher values for body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), HOMA-insulin resistance score, plasma insulin (at fasting and after glucose load), plasma triglyceride and liver enzyme concentrations [such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)], and tended to have lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration. The significant differences in plasma adiponectin levels that were observed between the groups were little affected by adjustment for potential confounding variables, such as age, sex, BMI, WHR, lipids and HOMA-insulin resistance score. Similarly, in multivariate regression analyses, hypoadiponectinaemia significantly predicted the presence of HS (P < 0.001) and the increased levels of GGT and ALT (P < 0.05), independently of potential confounders.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that decreased plasma adiponectin concentrations are closely correlated with nonalcoholic HS in healthy obese individuals.
Targher
Giovanni
G
Department of Internal Medicine, Sacro Cuore Hospital, 37024 Negrar (VR), Italy. targher@sacrocuore.it
Bertolini
Lorenzo
L
Scala
Luca
L
Poli
Felice
F
Zenari
Luciano
L
Falezza
Giancarlo
G
D052242:Adiponectin; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D052242:Adiponectin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins