High circulating adiponectin levels predict decreased muscle strength among older adults aged 70 years and over: A prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
Population-based researches indicate that circulating adiponectin is inversely associated with muscle strength. However, interpretation of the findings has been limited by the use of a cross-sectional design. This study aimed to examine the prospective relationship between baseline circulating adiponectin concentration and change in muscular function-related physical performance in older adults.


RESULTS
A 1-year prospective cohort study of Japanese community-dwelling elderly was conducted between 2002 and 2003. Four hundred thirty-four older persons participated in the measurements of physical function, including leg extension power, functional reach, timed up-and-go test, and 10-m maximum walking speed, at baseline and follow-up. After adjustment for potential covariates, higher serum adiponectin concentration was found to be significantly associated with poorer physical performance at baseline (leg extension power [watt], P < 0.001; functional reach [cm], P < 0.001; log timed up-and-go test, P = 0.007; log 10-m maximum walking speed, P < 0.001). The results of the prospective analysis by analysis of covariance indicated that the elderly with higher serum adiponectin concentrations (tertiles) at baseline tended to have a decreased performance in leg extension power (means [95% confidence interval]: lowest, -105 [-125, -85.7]; middle, -117 [-135, -97.8]; highest, -140 [-160, -120], watt, P for trend = 0.021) and timed up-and-go test (lowest, -0.08 [-0.28, -0.12]; middle, -0.10 [-0.29, 0.10]; highest, 0.28 [0.07, 0.48], s, P for trend = 0.019), but not two other functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
High circulating adiponectin concentration may be an indicator of decreased physical performance, especially muscle strength, in older adults.
Division of Biomedical Engineering for Health and Welfare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, 980-8575 Sendai, Japan. Electronic address: hcongman@yahoo.com.
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Huang
Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 980-8575 Sendai, Japan.
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Tomata
Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 980-8575 Sendai, Japan.
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Kakizaki
Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 980-8575 Sendai, Japan.
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Sugawara
Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, 980-8575 Sendai, Japan.
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Hozawa
Division of Biomedical Engineering for Health and Welfare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, 980-8575 Sendai, Japan.
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Momma
Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 980-8575 Sendai, Japan.
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Tsuji
Division of Biomedical Engineering for Health and Welfare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, 980-8575 Sendai, Japan. Electronic address: nagatomi@med.tohoku.ac.jp.
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Nagatomi
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers
Adipokine; Aging; Physical function; Sarcopenia