title: Serum adiponectin levels are associated with hepatitis B viral load in overweight to obese hepatitis B virus carriers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the association between serum adiponectin and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a campus-based cross-sectional study in Northern Taiwan, an HBV-endemic country. A total of 506 participants, including 147 chronic HBV-infected individuals and 359 healthy controls, were assessed for anthropometric indices, serum adiponectin levels, serum HBV viral load and markers, serum alanine aminotransferase levels and metabolic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older age, male gender, higher alanine aminotransferase, higher body mass index, greater waist circumference, lower fasting glucose, higher triglycerides, and higher adiponectin were associated with chronic HBV infection in univariate analyses. In multivariate analysis, the presence of chronic HBV infection was positively associated with serum adiponectin levels (P < 0.0001) and high adiponectin levels over the 75th percentile (odds ratio, 4.25; 95% confidence interval, 2.36-7.66; P < 0.0001) after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, and insulin resistance index. Furthermore, serum adiponectin levels were positively associated with HBV viral load in overweight to obese HBV-infected subjects (P = 0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although chronic HBV-infected individuals were heavier than healthy controls, they had significantly higher serum adiponectin levels than healthy counterparts. Additionally, adiponectin levels were positively associated with HBV viral load in overweight to obese HBV-infected subjects. Future research should focus on elucidating adiponectin pathways, which may contribute to the development of adjuvant treatments for chronic HBV infection.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chien-Hsieh
authors: CH
authors: Chiang
authors: Jin-Shin
authors: JS
authors: Lai
authors: Shou-Hung
authors: SH
authors: Hung
authors: Long-Teng
authors: LT
authors: Lee
authors: Jin-Chuan
authors: JC
authors: Sheu
authors: Kuo-Chin
authors: KC
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016014:Linear Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase