Visfatin/
nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), is a 52 kDa
adipokine with proinflammatory properties produced mostly by macrophages and adipocytes from visceral adipose tissue. It seems that
visfatin/NAMPT plays a role in the pathogenesis of arterial
hypertension. As this condition is frequently present in the elderly, the aim of the study was to assess the plasma
visfatin/NAMPT levels in normotensive and hypertensive subjects from the Polish elderly population.
Visfatin/NAMPT levels were measured by specific
enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay method in plasma samples from 2789 elderly subjects (1338 females, 1451 males) without
heart failure, the PolSenior study participants, in addition to previously estimated serum concentrations of
insulin,
glucose,
creatinine,
C-reactive protein, and
interleukin-6. Homeostasis model assessment for
insulin resistance was calculated and used as a marker of
insulin resistance. In the study group, 591 subjects were normotensive, 449 had untreated
hypertension, and 1749 had treated
hypertension. Plasma
visfatin/NAMPT levels were not related to the presence of
hypertension or the use of
antihypertensive drugs, including
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and
angiotensin receptor antagonists. The regression analysis revealed that plasma
visfatin/NAMPT concentration variability is increased in subjects with
high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration above 3 mg/L and with homeostasis model assessment for
insulin resistance ≥2.5, and decreased in those aged over 80 years. Our study shows that the presence of
hypertension is not associated with the plasma levels of
visfatin/NAMPT in elderly subjects. Plasma
visfatin/NAMPT concentrations positively correlate with
inflammation and
insulin resistance, and are decreased in the oldest.