The Value of Visfatin in the Prediction of Metabolic Syndrome: A Multi-Factorial Analysis

We describe the adipokine concentration in patients with metabolic syndrome, stressing the role of visfatin. A cross-sectional single center study on 70 patients with metabolic syndrome plus 76 controls was performed. Patients with metabolic syndrome had higher visfatin levels compared to controls, following adjustments for age, sex, waist/hip circumference, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, body mass index, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) [(5.39 +/- 0.29 vs. 3.88 +/- 0.32); F(1, 129) = 10.8, P < 0.01]. A logistic regression analysis revealed that circulating visfatin levels and HbA1c were the top variables for predicating metabolic syndrome. In patients with metabolic syndrome, visfatin did not correlate with any of the measured variables, with the single exception of adiponectin; in patients without metabolic syndrome, circulating visfatin levels were significantly associated with FPG, HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, HDL, and triglyceride. These findings may contribute to our current knowledge about visfatin in metabolic syndrome.