Adiponectin exerts positive effects on metabolic and inflammatory processes.
Adiponectin levels and some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) seem to be associated with
obesity. Here, we investigated the effects of a 4-week Hypocaloric diet and Physical exercise Program (
HPP) on 268 young people with
severe obesity. We evaluated the relationship between
adiponectin levels and anthropometric and biochemical parameters, at baseline and after a 4-week
HPP. Finally, we investigated some
adiponectin gene variants and their correlation to biochemical parameters.
Adiponectin levels were statistically lower in people with
severe obesity than in controls. At the end of the
HPP, all the people with
severe obesity showed a Body Mass Index (BMI) reduction with a statistically significant increase in
adiponectin levels. Genotyping, the
adiponectin gene demonstrated a significant difference in 3 polymorphisms within the people with
severe obesity. Besides, c.11377C>G and c.11391G>A homozygous subjects experienced more advantages by
HPP. Furthermore, c.268G>A heterozygous subjects showed an enhancement in
lipid profile as well in
adiponectin levels. The best predictor of the changes in
adiponectin levels was represented by the c.268G>A WT allele. Our study confirmed that a 4-weeks
HPP in people with
severe obesity results in metabolic amelioration associated with a significant increase of
adiponectin levels. Importantly, we found that a specific genetic background in the ADIPOQ gene can predispose toward a more significant
weight loss.