Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: To investigate the associations between adiponectin levels and adiposity and body fat distribution indices assessed by waist to hip ratio in Iranian women and to determine if the association differ as a result of ethnicity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 76 Iranian women free from metabolic disease was performed. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences, waist to hip ratio (WHR), body composition, insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles and plasma concentration of adiponectin were measured. Adiponectin changes after a weight loss diet in a subgroup of 42 obese subjects was also assessed.

Results: WHR (waist to hip ratio) was the only variable independently associated to adiponectin (Beta=0.25, P<0.05). A mean increase of 8.2±24.2% in adiponectin concentration was observed in response to the dietary restriction and weight loss (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for association of serum adiponectin level with visceral fat, represented by waist to hip ratio index. Our results also indicate that moderate weight loss result in significant improvements in adiponectin concentration. This provide another biological explanation for the beneficial effect of body weight loss on reducing cardiovascular and diabetes risks in obese patients.