Adiponectin and cardiovascular risk factors in post menopausal obese women

Abstract EN

Background : Adiponectin, a recently identified adipocytokine, has been added on the list as a new and very exciting player in the field of obesity related insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.

Aim : We aimed to investigate the adiponectin levels and adiponectin gene expression in adipose tissue in postmenopausal obese women with and without cardiovascular diseases, as well as the relationship between adiponectin levels and some cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods : Fifty postmenopausal women were included in this study.

They were classified into 10 non-obese, 20 healthy obese and 20 obese women suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

In all women, serum adiponectin level, adiponectin mRNA level, fasting glucose and insulin levels, HOMA index, and serum lipids as well as highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP) were estimated.

Results : Serum adiponectin levels and adiponectin mRNA levels were lower in obese subjects than non-obese subjects.

In addition, obese women with cardiovascular diseases had lower adiponectin level and adiponectin mRNA level than healthy obese women.

An inverse correlation was detected between serum adiponectin level or mRNA and fasting insulin level as well as HOMA index in obese women with cardiovascular diseases.

Also, a negative correlation between serum adiponectin level and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and hs-CRP was detected.

Conclusion : The physiological level of adiponectin may have a protective role for the cardiovascular system in normal non-obese subjects.

This protective effect is lost in obese post-menopausal women due to decreased adiponectin level leading to increased incidence of multiple cardiovascular complications, either directly though loss of its anti-inflammatory effects or indirectly though the development of insulin resistance