Gender difference among smoking, adiponectin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
BACKGROUND
Subclinical inflammation is a novel risk factor of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. An inverse association between plasma adiponectin and insulin resistance has been previously shown. Elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) predict future cardiovascular events. Smoking has been proven to connect with inflammatory markers. There is also evidence of a difference between genders in pro-inflammation. This study aimed to examine the connections among adiponectin, hs-CRP, and smoking and to determine possible gender differences in these associations.


METHODS
Included were 365 men and 476 women; all were nondiabetic and middle-aged. Daily smoking subjects were considered to be smokers. Adiponectin and hs-CRP were analyzed. Data were collected in 1997-1998, and cytokines were analyzed in 2003.


RESULTS
Thirty-five percent of the men and 22% of the women were smokers. In women, the adiponectin level was significantly lower in smokers (6.94+/-3.27 microg/ml) compared to nonsmokers (8.27+/-4.72 microg/ml, p=0.0017). This association remained significant after adjustment for age and BMI (p=0.0061). The hs-CRP level was significantly higher in smoking men (1.59+/-1.71 pg/ml) compared to nonsmoking men (1.17+/-1.41 pg/ml, p=0.018). This result remained after adjustment for age and BMI (p=0.0056). When smokers were compared to nonsmokers, there was no difference in adiponectin among men or in hs-CRP among women.


CONCLUSIONS
In the nondiabetic population, smoking associates differently with subclinical inflammation between genders, with a decreased adiponectin level in women and with an increased hs-CRP level in men.
Palokka Health Centre, Central Hospital of Middle Finland, Jyväskylä, Finland. tiina.ahonen@fimnet.fi
Tiina M
TM
Ahonen
Hannu J
HJ
Kautiainen
Sirkka M
SM
Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi
Esko A
EA
Kumpusalo
Mauno J
MJ
Vanhala
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein