High prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in type 2 diabetics with hypoadiponectinemia and metabolic syndrome

Background: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been increasing worldwide. Abdominal obesity or visceral fat accumulation rather than simple obesity is associated with GERD. Previous reports demonstrated the association between GERD and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Signification of visceral fat accumulation and adiponectin in T2DM patients with GERD remains unclear. The present study investigated the relationships between GERD symptoms, visceral fat accumulation and adiponectin in subjects with T2DM. Findings: The study (ADMIT study) subjects were 66 Japanese T2DM outpatients, who answered the questionnaire regarding GERD symptoms in Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD (FSSG), and were measured visceral fat area by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Patients with FSSG scores of more than 8 were considered as positive. The prevalence of FSSG score >= 8 and average FSSG score in T2DM subjects with the metabolic syndrome (Mets) were significantly higher compared to those without Mets. The prevalence of FSSG score >= 8 and average FSSG score in T2DM subjects with low levels of serum adiponectin were significantly higher compared to those with high levels of serum adiponectin. Moreover, the combination of Mets and hypoadiponectinemia had a multiplicative effect on GERD symptom score (p = 0.047). Conclusions: Our study showed that the coexistence of MetS and low levels of serum adiponectin was associated with the higher prevalence of FSSG score >= 8 and the higher scores of GERD symptom in subjects with T2DM.