Relationship between Visceral Adiposity and Plasma Adiponectin Concentration: Effect of Weight Loss

Abstract

Background: Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic protein that has a protective effect against athero­sclero­sis and diabetes. It is exclusively secreted by adipose tissue. Serum adiponectin levels are inversely associated with pa­rame­ters of overall adiposity including body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and percentage of body fat.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 76 women we sought to evaluate if adiponectin is associated primarily with central adi­pos­ity rather than overall adiposity. We also assessed adiponectin changes after weight loss in a subgroup of 42 obese sub­jects.

Results: Waist to hip ratio (WHR), an index of central obesity, was the only variable independently associated to adi­ponectin (Beta= 0.25, P< 0.05). A mean increase of 8.2±24.2% in adiponectin concentration was observed in response to the dietary restriction and weight loss (P= 0.03). Our findings provide evidence for association of serum adiponectin level with visceral fat, represented by waist to hip ratio index.

Conclusion: Moderate weight loss result in significant improvements in adiponectin concentration and provide another bio­logi­cal explanation for the beneficial effect of body weight loss on reducing cardiovascular and diabetes risks in obese pa­tients.