Adiponectin is related with carotid artery intima-media thickness and brachial flow-mediated dilatation in young adults--the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.
OBJECTIVE
Adiponectin may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated the relation of adiponectin on early functional and structural markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in a large population-based cohort of young men and women.


RESULTS
We measured serum adiponectin using radioimmunoassay in 2,147 young adults (ages 24-39 years) participating in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. The subjects had ultrasound data on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid artery elasticity (n = 2,139) and brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) (n = 1,996). In univariate analysis, adiponectin was inversely associated with IMT (r = -0.16, P < 0.0001) and directly with FMD (r = 0.12, P < 0.0001) and carotid elasticity (r = 0.20, P < 0.0001). The associations for IMT and FMD remained significant in multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, obesity indices, serum lipids, blood pressure, leptin, glucose, and C-reactive protein: IMT (β = -0.018 ± 0.005, P = 0.0002) and FMD (β = 0.72 ± 0.25, P = 0.004). The relation between adiponectin and carotid elasticity attenuated to non-significant after adjusting for waist circumference and systolic blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
In young healthy adults, low serum adiponectin concentration is independently related with increased carotid IMT and attenuated brachial FMD, supporting the role of adiponectin in the pathogenesis of early atherosclerosis.
Saarikoski
Liisa A
LA
Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Huupponen
Risto K
RK
Viikari
Jorma S A
JS
Marniemi
Jukka
J
Juonala
Markus
M
Kähönen
Mika
M
Raitakari
Olli T
OT
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers