Elsevier

Metabolism

Volume 53, Issue 1, January 2004, Pages 1-3
Metabolism

Preliminary report
Ethnic differences in adiponectin levels

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2003.07.002Get rights and content

Abstract

Adiponectin levels were measured in African American and Caucasian women of varying body mass index (BMI). Plasma adiponectin levels were compared and the relationship between adiponectin and insulin sensitivity was assessed. Adiponectin levels were similar in the Caucasian obese (7.0 ± 0.8 μg/mL), African American obese (7.3 ± 3.5 μg/mL), and African American non-obese women (7.1 ± 1.2 μg/mL), but were significantly higher in Caucasian non-obese women (12.2 ± 1.4 μg/mL). Correlational analyses demonstrated that BMI, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) correlated significantly with adiponectin levels in only the Caucasian women. These results provide support for the notion that what applies to other ethnic populations might not apply to the African American population, and that the association between adiponectin and insulin sensitivity needs to be clarified in the African American population.

Section snippets

Patient characteristics

Twenty-five non-obese women (13 African Americans, 12 Caucasians, body mass index [BMI] < 30) and 60 obese women (24 African Americans, 36 Caucasians, BMI > 30) participated in this study. Written consent was obtained from patients after they were informed of the nature and potential risk of the study. The Institutional Review Board for human subject research approved the protocols used in this study.

Plasma analysis

Blood was collected from patients after a 12-hour fast, and a preservative mixture containing

Results

Table 1 shows that there were no differences in age, BMI, insulin, glucose, and HOMA within either the non-obese or obese groups irrespective of ethnicity. There were no differences in adiponectin levels between the obese African American and Caucasian women. However, plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower (−72%) in African American compared with the Caucasian non-obese women, despite the lack of difference in insulin concentration and insulin sensitivity (HOMA). Interestingly,

Discussion

Studies have shown that plasma adiponectin levels are negatively associated with the insulin-resistant state irrespective of gender or ethnicity.1, 6, 7, 9, 10 However, there are no studies demonstrating similar associations in African American subjects despite the prevalence of obesity,11 diabetes,12, 13 and insulin resistance14, 15, 16 in this population. In the current study, African Americans and Caucasians with varying degrees of obesity and insulin resistance were examined to determine if

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Supported in part by a grant from the American Diabetes Association (H.A.B.) and National Research Service Award (M.W.H.).

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