Background: Low plasma concentration of adiponectin, a hormone-like peptide secreted by
adipose tissue, is detected in obesity and in coronary artery disease. The aim of the study was to
assess the impact of obesity on adiponectin and the relation of adiponectin to the anthropometric
parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in men with acute myocardial infarction.
Methods: Two groups of patients with first acute myocardial infarction were analyzed: 40 obese and 40 non-obese men. Waist and hip circumferences and waist-to-hip ratio, C-reactive
protein (CRP), uric acid, fasting glucose, lipid profile and adiponectin were measured.
Results: Mean level of adiponectin was significantly lower in obese than non-obese patients
(6.80 μg/ml ± 4.31 vs. 11.18 μg/ml ± 7.19; p < 0.01). Adiponectin levels correlated negatively
with all anthropometric measurements, the most significantly with waist circumference, with
systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglyceride levels, CRP, uric acid and positively with
age and HDL-cholesterol. Adiponectin level was significantly associated with HDL-cholesterol,
waist circumference and with trigliceryde levels and these independent variables explained
39% of the plasma adiponectin variability.
Conclusions: In patients with acute myocardial infarction obesity is related to decreased
adiponectin. Low adiponectin level is associated with atherogenic lipid profile and higher levels
of inflammatory markers. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 29–36