Lower total fasting plasma adiponectin concentrations are associated with higher metabolic rates

Abstract

Context: The possible role of adiponectin, a protein uniquely produced by the adipose tissue and significantly reduced in obesity and other insulin-resistant states, in the regulation of energy expenditure (EE) is still poorly understood.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between total fasting plasma adiponectin concentrations and the various components of EE measured in a metabolic chamber in Pima Indians and to test whether body fat distribution may have a role in this association.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study.

Setting: The study was an inpatient clinical research unit.

Participants: Sixty nondiabetic Pima Indians (45 males and 15 females), aged 18-45 yr, spanning a wide range of adiposity (body mass index 19.6-46.2 kg/m(2)) participated in the study.

Main outcome measures: Total fasting plasma adiponectin concentrations, EE (24-h respiratory chamber), insulin sensitivity (euglycemic-hyperisulinemic clamp), body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), and body fat distribution (waist to thigh ratio) were the main outcome measures.

Results: Total fasting plasma adiponectin concentrations are negatively associated with sleep EE adjusted for sex, age, fat-free mass, and fat mass. This correlation is still significant, although attenuated, after inclusion of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal among the regressors and further attenuated when adjusted also for waist to thigh ratio.

Conclusions: The decrease in total fasting plasma adiponectin concentrations that accompanies fat accumulation may be a mechanism to prevent further weight gain by decreasing insulin sensitivity and increasing energy expenditure.

Fig. 1

Spearman correlation between total fasting plasma adiponectin concentrations and SLEEP.