title: The relationships of plasma adiponectin with a favorable lipid profile, decreased inflammation, and less ectopic fat accumulation depend on adiposity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The metabolic effects of adiponectin, including insulin sensitivity, seem to become stronger with increasing adiposity. Adiposity may also affect the relationship of adiponectin concentrations with serum lipid profile; markers of inflammation, atherosclerosis, and endothelial function; and ectopic fat accumulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured plasma adiponectin concentrations, serum lipids, and serum markers of inflammation, atherosclerosis, and endothelial function in 242 Caucasians without type 2 diabetes. We also measured visceral adipose tissue with magnetic resonance tomography and liver and intramyocellular fat with (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We divided the study participants into 2 groups: lean [mean (SE) total body fat, 26% (0.6%); n = 119] and obese [36% (0.6%); n = 123]. In the obese group, plasma adiponectin concentrations showed a strong positive association with concentrations of HDL cholesterol (P <0.0001) and negative associations with LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, apolipoprotein B(100), soluble E-selectin, soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule 1, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, leukocyte count, and liver and intramyocellular fat (all P <0.03). In the lean group, adiponectin showed a less strong association with HDL cholesterol (P = 0.005) and liver fat (P = 0.03) and no significant associations with the other variables (all P >0.10). High visceral adipose tissue was a strong predictor of low adiponectin concentrations, particularly in the obese group, and attenuated many of the significant relationships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High adiponectin plasma concentrations are associated with favorable lipid profiles, decreased subclinical inflammation, decreased markers of atherosclerosis and endothelial function, and low ectopic fat accumulation, particularly in obese persons. Adiponectin may also have a concentration-related effect on the relationship between visceral adipose tissue and these metabolic characteristics, especially in obese persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, Pathobiochemistry, and Clinical Chemistry, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kantartzis
authors.forename: Killian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rittig
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balletshofer
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Machann
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Porubska
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fritsche
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Häring
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stefan
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D050154:Adiposity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins