title: Influence of age on the association of retinol-binding protein 4 with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationships of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) with insulin sensitivity and body fat distribution have been investigated in a few recent studies with conflicting results. This may have been due to differences in ages of the subjects in the different studies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the association of RBP4 and insulin sensitivity and percent trunk fat are influenced by age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analyses of 48 young subjects and 55 elderly subjects. Insulin sensitivity was determined by a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Body fat distribution was determined by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the young subjects, RBP4 levels were associated with insulin sensitivity (r = -0.30, P = 0.04), percent trunk fat (r = 0.54, P < 0.001), triglycerides (r = 0.44, P = 0.003), low-density lipoprotein (r = 0.38, P = 0.01). In contrast, in the elderly subjects there was no correlation between RBP4 levels and insulin sensitivity (r = -0.18, P = 0.20), percent trunk fat (r = 0.00, P = 0.10), triglycerides (r = 0.25, P = 0.10), and low-density lipoprotein (r = -0.11, P = 0.47).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The associations of RBP4 with insulin sensitivity, percent trunk fat, and lipid levels are influenced by age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA. sgavi@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
authors.forename: Shai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gavi
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qurashi
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Mark M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Melendez
authors.forename: Dennis C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mynarcik
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McNurlan
authors.forename: Marie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gelato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D014280:Triglycerides