Adiponectin and peripheral arterial disease in women

Adiponectin and peripheral arterial disease in women

Adipose tissue is not just a store of excess fat, but an active endocrine organ which secretes hormones known as adipokines involved in glucose metabolism and inflammation. The most abundant of the adipokines is adiponectin, which is paradoxically decreased in obesity. It is the high molecular weight form of adiponectin which is thought to be biologically active. High levels of adiponectin is associated with insulin sensitivity, lower risk of diabetes mellitus and has antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects.

Ho and colleagues [1] evaluated the association of total adiponectin, high molecular weight adiponectin and high molecular weight adiponectin to total adiponectin ratio and symptomatic peripheral arterial disease in the Women’s Health Study. It was found that total adiponectin and high molecular weight adiponectin was significantly lower in women who develop peripheral arterial disease. The difference was noted even after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, use of hormone replacement therapy, high sensitivity CRP levels, leptin levels, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels, HbA1c levels as well as fasting insulin levels. The authors concluded that there is protective role for adiponectin in the development of peripheral atherosclerosis.

Reference

1. Deborah Y Ho, Nancy R Cook, Kathryn A Britton, Eunjung Kim, Mark A Creager, Paul M Ridker, Aruna D Pradhan. High-Molecular-Weight and Total Adiponectin Levels and Incident Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease in Women – A Prospective Investigation. Circulation. 2011; 124: 2303-2311.