Adiponectin levels in obese and non-obese middle-aged African-American women

Context: Adiponectin levels in African-Americans are poorly described. Objective: To assess predictors of serum adiponectin levels in obese and non-obese middle-aged African-American women. Methods: Serum adiponectin, testosterone (T), free androgen index (FAI), estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), leptin, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), triglycerides and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 142 obese and 102 non-obese, community-dwelling, African-American women in St. Louis, Missouri. Medical history, physical activity, anthropometry, medications and body composition were assessed. Results: Adiponectin and SHBG levels were tower and leptin and CRP were higher in obese compared to non-obese women (P's<0.01). Overall, log adiponectin was positively associated with age (R=0.13) and log SHBG (R=0.29), and inversely associated with anthropometric measures (R's=-0.17 to -0.36), serum androgens (R's=-0.21 to -0.23), log estradiol (R=-0.21), log leptin (R=-0.15), log trigtycerides (R=-0.33) and log CRP (R=-0.29). Overall, multivariate modelling significantly predicted 32% of variation in adiponectin level; the most significant factors were WHR (beta = -1.33), SHBG (beta = 0.23) and triglycerides (beta = -0.34). In non-obese women, the model predicted 27% of variation in adiponectin level; no individual factor was independently associated. In obese women, the model predicted 30% of variation in adiponectin level; the most significant factors were WHR (beta = -1.49), triglycerides (beta = -0.34) and history of stroke (beta = -0.71). Conclusions: Adiponectin level in African-American women is predicted by WHR, SHBG, and triglycerides; stroke history adds predictive value in obese women. (C) 2006 Asian Oceanian Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.