Increased serum
adiponectin levels may play a protective role in
metabolic syndrome. However, few prospective studies have examined the effect of serum
adiponectin in the improvement of metabolic components in subjects with
metabolic syndrome. We investigated the association of serum
adiponectin levels with the regression of
metabolic syndrome in a population-based longitudinal study. A total of 1308 adults (575 men and 733 women) with
metabolic syndrome at baseline were examined and followed. Baseline serum
adiponectin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. During an average of 2.6 years of follow-up,
metabolic syndrome had disappeared in 184 men (29.8%) and 235 women (32.1%). In multivariable adjusted models, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for regression of
metabolic syndrome comparing the highest to the lowest quartiles of
adiponectin levels was 0.93 (0.56-1.53) in men and 2.48 (1.54-4.01) in women. Increased serum
adiponectin is a predictor for the regression of
metabolic syndrome in women.
Adiponectin may have potential therapeutic applications in
metabolic disease.