Low plasma adiponectin concentration is associated with myocardial infarction in young individuals.
OBJECTIVE
The importance of adiponectin in coronary heart disease remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the associations between plasma adiponectin levels and i) myocardial infarction and ii) genetic variation within the adiponectin gene were investigated.


METHODS
The study included young survivors (age <60 years) of a first myocardial infarction and gender- and age-matched controls (244 pairs). Adiponectin concentrations were analysed by radioimmunoassay. Two polymorphisms, rs266729 and rs1501299, of the adiponectin gene ADIPOQ were genotyped.


RESULTS
Adiponectin levels were inversely associated with myocardial infarction [odds ratio (OR) 9.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.7-18.2, for the lowest quartile compared to the highest quartile]. This persisted after adjustment for history of hypertension, HDL cholesterol, smoking and body mass index (BMI) (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.3-7.6). The rs266729 polymorphism was associated with adiponectin levels. Plasma adiponectin concentrations were lower in individuals with the rare G/G genotype [median 4.3 mg/L, [corrected] interquartile range (IQR) 2.8-6.2] compared to the C/G (median 5.8 mg/L), [corrected] IQR 3.9-8.0; P = 0.035) and C/C genotypes (median 5.5 mg/L, [corrected] IQR 4.0-7.5; P = 0.083).


CONCLUSIONS
Low plasma adiponectin concentrations are associated with myocardial infarction in individuals below the age of 60, and this remains significant after adjustment for history of hypertension, HDL cholesterol, smoking and BMI. In addition, adiponectin levels differ according to rs266729 genotype.
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. jonas.persson@ds.se
J
J
Persson
K
K
Lindberg
T P
TP
Gustafsson
P
P
Eriksson
G
G
Paulsson-Berne
P
P
Lundman
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein