Adiponectin and Lipoprotein Particle Size

OBJECTIVE

Adiponectin has been postulated to affect lipid and insulin signal transduction pathways. We evaluated the relationships of plasma adiponectin with lipoprotein mean particle size and subclass concentrations, independent of obesity and insulin sensitivity.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of 884 young Israeli adults who participated in the population-based Jerusalem Lipid Research Clinic (LRC) study was conducted. Lipoprotein particle size was assessed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance.

RESULTS

In multivariable linear regression models that included sex, BMI, waist circumference, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and leptin, adiponectin was associated with mean LDL size (standardized regression coefficient B = 0.20; P < 0.001), VLDL size (B = −0.12; P < 0.001), and HDL size (B = 0.06; P = 0.013). Adiponectin was inversely related to large VLDL (P < 0.001) but positively to small VLDL (P = 0.02), inversely related to small LDL (P < 0.006) but positively to large LDL (P < 0.001), and positively related to large HDL (P < 0.001) subclass concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Adiponectin is favorably associated with lipoprotein particle size and subclass distribution independent of adiposity and insulin sensitivity.Adiponectin is a fat-derived adipocytokine (1,2) that is strongly associated with insulin sensitivity and favorable cardiovascular outcomes. Given that insulin resistance is associated with reduced adiponectin levels (3), we hypothesized that adiponectin may have a direct role in hepatic lipoprotein metabolism. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships of adiponectin with lipoprotein particle size, independent of the degree of obesity and insulin sensitivity, in a population-based sample of healthy young adults.