Letters: observations. Plasma adiponectin concentrations are independently predicted by fat insulin sensitivity in women and by muscle insulin sensitivity in men

Abstract

Adiponectin is an abundant plasma protein, mainly secreted by adipocytes and closely linked to insulin sensitivity (1–4). Plasma adiponectin independently correlates with insulin sensitivity (5). Since women have greater plasma adiponectin levels than men (5–7), we determined sex-specific differences in associations between plasma adiponectin and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle, liver, and fat. Plasma adiponectin concentrations were measured (intra-assay coefficient of variation <4%) in 28 men and 28 women (6 men and 6 women had impaired glucose tolerance according to World Health Organization criteria). Insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle, liver, and fat was determined by insulin-mediated whole-body glucose disposal (M values), suppression of hepatic glucose output evaluated during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, and suppression of free fatty acid (FFA)