title: Influence of daily alcohol consumption on serum adiponectin levels in men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of cardiovascular diseases is lower among moderate alcohol drinkers than among both nondrinkers and heavy drinkers. However, factors that can account for the U-shaped or J-shaped relationship between daily alcohol consumption and incident cardiovascular diseases remain obscure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between alcohol consumption and serum adiponectin levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total adiponectin was measured in 527 males participating in health check-up programs (age range 40-86 years, mean 60.5 years). Based on questionnaire responses, alcohol intake was categorized into three groups: none or occasional (A1); <50 g/day and ≥3 days/week (A2); and ≥50 g/day and ≥3 days/week (A3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in adiponectin levels were observed among the three alcohol consumption groups of subjects without the metabolic syndrome (MetS). In subjects with the MetS, the adiponectin level was significantly higher in the A2 (moderate drinker) group than in both the A1 and A3 groups. MetS subjects in group A2 had higher HDL-C levels than those in A1, but levels in group A3 were not significantly different from those in group A2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increased adiponectin level in moderate alcohol drinkers who have MetS may contribute to the U-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular events, in addition to the involvement of HDL-C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Iwate Medical University, Morioka 020-8505, Japan. makitas@seagreen.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makita
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abiko
authors.forename: Mizuyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Shinetsu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yonezawa
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koshiyama
authors.forename: Mutsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL