Adiposity and insulin resistance correlate with telomere length in middle-aged Arabs: the influence of circulating adiponectin.
OBJECTIVE
Studies in obesity have implicated adipocytokines in the development of insulin resistance, which in turn may lead to accelerated aging. In this study, we determined associations of chromosomal telomere length (TL) to markers of obesity and insulin resistance in middle-aged adult male and female Arabs with and without diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2).


METHODS
One hundred and ninety-three non-diabetic and DMT2 subjects without complications (97 males and 96 females) participated in this cross-sectional study. Clinical data, as well as fasting blood samples, were collected. Serum glucose and lipid profile were determined using routine laboratory methods. Serum insulin, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α, and PAI-1 were quantified using customized multiplex assay kits. High sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and angiotensin II (ANG II) were measured using ELISAs. Circulating leukocyte TL was examined by quantitative real-time PCR.


RESULTS
Circulating chromosomal leukocyte TL had significant inverse associations with body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and total cholesterol, ANG II and hsCRP levels. Adiponectin, BMI, systolic blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol predicted 47% of the variance in TL (P<0.0001). HOMA-IR was the most significant predictor for TL in males, explaining 35% of the variance (P=0.01). In females, adiponectin accounted for 28% of the variance in TL (P=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with chromosomal TL among adult Arabs. Evidence of causal relations needs further investigation. The positive association of adiponectin to TL has clinical implications as to the possible protective effects of this hormone from accelerated aging.
Al-Attas
Omar S
OS
Department of Biochemistry, Obesity Research Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al-Daghri
Nasser M
NM
Alokail
Majed S
MS
Alfadda
Assim
A
Bamakhramah
Ahmed
A
Sabico
Shaun
S
Pritlove
Dave
D
Harte
Alison
A
Tripathi
Gyanendra
G
McTernan
Philip G
PG
Kumar
Sudhesh
S
Chrousos
George
G
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D050154:Adiposity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018912:Arabs / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D052242:Adiponectin