Objective: Hypoadiponectin has been documented in subjects with obesity, diabetes mellitus, or coronary heart disease, suggesting a potential use of plasma adiponectin in following the clinical progress in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). In this study, we investigated the plasma adiponectin levels in relation to the variables of MS among overweight/obese Asian subjects.

Research Methods and Procedures: The plasma adiponectin, anthropometric and biochemical measurements, oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), and modified insulin suppression tests were performed on 180 overweight/obese Asian subjects [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 23 kg/m²], including 47 subjects with morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²).

Results: The plasma adiponectin levels negatively correlated with BMI, waist‐to‐hip ratio, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride, uric acid levels, hyperinsulinemia, and glucose intolerance in OGTT, but positively with high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol. In contrast, they were not related to blood pressure and total cholesterol. Moreover, insulin sensitivity, measured by quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) or in insulin suppression tests, significantly correlated with the plasma adiponectin levels. Among morbidly obese subjects, only the waist‐to‐hip ratio correlated with the plasma adiponectin levels. Using multivariate linear regression models, the area under curve of plasma glucose in OGTT and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol among the overweight/obese subjects and WHR among the morbidly obese subjects were significantly related to the plasma adiponectin levels after adjustment for other variables.

Discussion: In overweight/obese Asians, the plasma adiponectin levels significantly correlated with various indices of MS except hypertension. Whether the plasma adiponectin level could be a suitable biomarker for following the clinical progress of MS warrants further investigation.