The serum profile of adipokines in overweight patients with metabolic syndrome

Introduction: Obesity is a disease that brings several complications and increases the risk of other diseases like metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type 2, or coronary heart disease. Disturbances in secretion of adipokines caused by obesity have an influence on the development of metabolic complications. The aim of this study was an investigation of adipokines profile in overweight or obese people with metabolic syndrome in comparison to overweight/obese patients without metabolic syndrome. Material and methods: The studied groups consisted of 38 obese or overweight patients without metabolic syndrome (nonMS) and 17 with recognized metabolic syndrome (MS), according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. All individuals underwent anthropometrical and blood-pressure examination as well as biochemical analyses such as: serum concentrations of glucose, insulin, adiponectin, resistin, leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, hs-CRP, total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides. Results: A significantly lower concentration of adiponectin, and a higher concentration of IL-6, was observed in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) in comparison to nonMS. Moreover, higher concentrations of hs-CRP and TNF-alpha were observed in patients with metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: A decreased concentration of adiponectin in obese people is an early predictor of metabolic syndrome. A low adiponectin level could be a marker of high risk of cardiovascular disease in obese patients. (Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 36-41)