title: High adiponectin concentrations are associated with the metabolically healthy obese phenotype.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the ob/ob mice, keeping adiponectin concentrations in the physiological range (through overexpression of this gene in the adipose tissue) results in expansion of fat mass and protection against metabolic co-morbidities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to test in humans whether plasma adiponectin levels, similar to those found in lean subjects, are associated with the metabolically healthy obese phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional analysis was performed of a cohort of obese and nonobese subjects aged 18-70 yr. A medical history was taken, and glucose, plasma lipids, and total adiponectin were measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 189 men and 527 women. The majority were obese (n = 470, 65.6%). The metabolically healthy obese phenotype was found in 38 men and 133 women. This is defined as a body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m(2) plus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of at least 40 mg/dl in the absence of type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty percent of the cases with a BMI above 40 kg/m(2) had adiponectin concentrations above the median value of normal BMI subjects. Adiponectin levels above 12.49 mg/liter in obese women (odds ratio, 3.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-4.67; P < 0.001) and above 8.07 mg/liter in obese men (odds ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.06; P = 0.01) increased the probability of being metabolically healthy. The association remained significant (beta, 0.673 +/- 0.205, P < 0.001) in a logistic regression model (r(2) = 0.25, P < 0.001) after controlling for the confounding effect of age, insulin, and waist circumference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Certain obese individuals have adiponectin levels similar to those found in normal BMI subjects; this is associated with the metabolically healthy obese phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endocrinología y Metabolismo del Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Mexico D.F. 14000, México. caguilarsalinas@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Salinas
authors.forename: Eduardo García
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riaño
authors.forename: Doris Georgina
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Gomez
authors.forename: Ana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: García-Ulloa
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Melgarejo
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.forename: Luz E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Guillen-Pineda
authors.forename: Roopa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canizales-Quinteros
authors.forename: Ma Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Tusie Luna
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gómez-Pérez
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin