Preferential increase in high-molecular weight adiponectin after niacin.
OBJECTIVE
Recently we have demonstrated that treatment with niacin raises adiponectin between 52% and 95% in patients with the metabolic syndrome. In this study we investigated whether all three adiponectin fractions are increased equally, and, secondly, whether the increase in the biologically most active high-molecular weight (HMW) fraction can prevent the deterioration of insulin sensitivity that was also observed after niacin.


RESULTS
We used sera frozen at -80 degrees C from a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled treatment study in which 20 men with the metabolic syndrome received 1500 mg niacin for 6 weeks. Low- and medium-molecular weight adiponectin increased by 35% and 33%, respectively, but HMW adiponectin by 88% (all p<0.05). The increase in HMW adiponectin was almost two times as large in patients with lower BMI and better insulin sensitivity. However, treatment with niacin induced a deterioration of insulin sensitivity, as assessed by the HOMA-IR, independently of the increase in HMW adiponectin.


CONCLUSIONS
HMW adiponectin is the fraction most affected by treatment with niacin. The niacin-associated deterioration of insulin sensitivity, however, occurs even in subgroups with the greatest increase of HMW adiponectin.
Westphal
Sabine
S
Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Magdeburg University Hospital, Germany. Sabine.Westphal@Medizin.Uni-Magdeburg.de
Luley
Claus
C
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D009525:Niacin; D008049:Lipase