Increase in high molecular weight adiponectin by bariatric surgery-induced weight loss

Aim: To determine the changes in adiponectin multimers upon marked weight loss. Methods: Plasma samples were obtained preoperatively and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery from 12 obese subjects undergoing weight loss–inducing bariatric surgery. Seven non‐operated obese subjects served as controls. Plasma levels of adiponectin multimers were determined by protease digestion and Enzyme‐Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) detection. In addition, adiponectin multimers were assessed by western blotting. Results: In patients with weight loss after surgery but not in controls, total adiponectin and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin steadily increased during the observation period. Twenty‐four months after surgery, the increase in total and HMW adiponectin was 2.2 ± 0.46 and 1.4 ± 0.3 μg/ml, respectively. In contrast, plasma concentrations of middle and low molecular weight adiponectin remained unchanged. Conclusions: The increase in plasma adiponectin levels observed 24 months after bariatric surgery depended on continuous weight loss and was completely attributable to the HMW complex.