Potential involvement of adiponectin in obesity-associated erosive esophagitis

Abstract

A strong causal relationship between obesity and erosive esophagitis has been proposed. Obesity may affect the pathogenesis of erosive esophagitis through adipokines as well as acid reflux. We evaluated the involvement of adiponectin in obesity-associated erosive esophagitis. In total, 1,902 patients who underwent endoscopy during medical check-ups were selected for study. Variables including the body mass index (BMI) and adiponectin level were compared between subjects with erosive esophagitis and normal controls. The subjects were classified by quartiles (Qs) of adiponectin level. Q4 was the reference group. The median adiponectin level differed by gender (men, 5.3 µg/ml vs women, 9.3 µg/ml; p<0.001). As the severity of erosive esophagitis increased in men, the BMI increased (p<0.001) while the adiponectin level decreased (p = 0.026). The multivariate odds ratio for erosive esophagitis was 1.79 for Q1, 1.73 for Q2, 2.34 for obesity, and 27.40 for hiatal hernia in men. When classified by obesity, the multivariate odds ratio for erosive esophagitis was 1.94 for Q1, 2.10 for Q2, and 18.47 for hiatal hernia only in obese men. In women, there were no trends in BMI, adiponectin levels, or severity of erosive esophagitis. We demonstrated that low adiponectin levels are involved in obesity-associated erosive esophagitis in men but not women.

Keywords: adiponectin; gastroesophageal reflux disease; gender difference; obesity.

Fig. 1

Flow chart of study population selection.

Fig. 2

Association between severity of EE and indicators of obesity. (A) In men, BMI significantly increased as the severity of EE increased (p<0.001; by linear-by-linear association). (B) However, this linear association was not found in women (p = 0.215; by linear-by-linear association). (C) In men, adiponectin levels significantly decreased as the severity of EE increased (p = 0.026; by linear-by-linear association). (D) However, this linear association was not found in women (p = 0.473; by linear-by-linear association).

Fig. 3

Prevalence of EE according to Qs of adiponectin levels in obese and non-obese subjects. (A) The prevalence of EE decreased proportionally with increased Qs of adiponectin levels in the obese men (p = 0.048; by linear-by-linear association). (B) However, this linear association was not found in non-obese men (p = 0.747; by linear-by-linear association). (C) In obese women, there was no linear association between prevalence of EE and Qs (p = 0.364; by linear-by-linear association). (D) In non-obese women, this linear association was not found (p = 0.924; by linear-by-linear association).