title: Association between γ-glutamyltransferase, adiponectin and arterial stiffness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is used as a marker of hepatic dysfunction. Recently, several studies reported that GGT is significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality and atherosclerosis. Adiponectin is known to play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis, but its physiologic role has yet to be fully determined. In this study, we investigated the relationships among serum GGT, adiponectin and arterial stiffness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 4236 subjects recruited from 17 different medical centers in Seoul, Korea, 2846 subjects were enrolled in our study. The parameters of metabolic syndrome (MetS) were assessed in these subjects, and their plasma adiponectin levels and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured along with anthropometric and biochemical profiles, including GGT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The subjects were stratified into 3 groups according to GGT values. PWV values gradually increased and the adiponectin level decreased with GGT tertiles. Aortic PWV showed a significant correlation with age, SBP, FPG, but there was no correlation among aortic PWV, GGT and adiponectin. Peripheral PWV demonstrated a significant correlation with age, SBP, DBP, BMI, WC, FPG and GGT, but there was no correlation between peripheral PWV and adiponectin. In multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for risk factors, GGT was a significant contributor to increased peripheral PWV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that serum GGT is independently associated with increased arterial stiffness, but there was no correlation between adiponectin and arterial stiffness in both males and females.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jong Suk
authors: JS
authors: Park
authors: Sin Ae
authors: SA
authors: Kang
authors: Jeong Seon
authors: JS
authors: Yoo
authors: Chul Woo
authors: CW
authors: Ahn
authors: Bong Soo
authors: BS
authors: Cha
authors: Kyung Rae
authors: KR
authors: Kim
authors: Hyun Chul
authors: HC
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase