title: Insulin, hs-CRP, leptin, and adiponectin. An analysis of their relationship to the metabolic syndrome in an obese population with an elevated waist circumference.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various adipose tissue factors have been implicated as biomarkers of the metabolic syndrome (MS). The objective of this study was to assess which specific adipose tissue factors would discriminate the presence of MS in a strictly obese population meeting waist circumference (WC) criteria for the MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study of 148 subjects recruited from a university-based weight loss program prior to starting the program. Patients were eligible if they had a BMI more than 25 kg/m(2) and had WC more than 40 and 35 inches in males and females, respectively. Biomarkers measured included high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin, adiponectin, and total insulin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total population, 33.8% satisfied criteria for the MS. Insulin was the only biomarker to consistently differentiate between presence and absence of MS in this obese population (P = 0.0001 in males, P = 0.006 in females). All biomarkers measured with the exception of leptin had a statistically significant relationship with increasing criteria for the MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a population where an excess amount of adipose tissue exists, insulin is the only reliable biomarker to differentiate MS status. We surmise that differences in hs-CRP, leptin, and adiponectin are a reflection of their measurements in individuals with statistically different amounts of adipose tissue.
authors: Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1742, USA. eyan@mednet.ucla.edu
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Yan
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Chen
authors: Kurt
authors: K
authors: Hong
authors: Woo Sung
authors: WS
authors: Kim
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Bajpai
authors: Leo
authors: L
authors: Treyzon
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Gratton
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Elashoff
authors: He-Jing
authors: HJ
authors: Wang
authors: Zhaoping
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Heber
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein