Adiponectin levels and its role in insulin resistance among adult women with metabolic syndrome.

Aim: To identify the proportion of low adiponectin level and to evaluate the role of low adiponectin level, age, body mass index, and waist circumference on the occurrence of metabolic syndrome in women with insulin resistance.

Methods: The study was done by a cross-sectional survey on adult women aged 30-60 years. The study was conducted at Fatmawati Hospital-Jakarta from January to March 2008 with a total sample of 33. The sample was selected consecutively based on the presence of metabolic syndrome according to the IDF 2005 criteria. The examination of plasma adiponectin level was done by ELISA method. Insulin resistance was defined if HOMA IR > or = 2 (calculated by fasting insulin (microU/mL) x Fasting blood sugar (mmol/L) divided by 22.5). Association of low adiponectin level with insulin resistance was evaluated by calculating the Odds Ratio.

Results: Seventeen of 33 subjects with metabolic syndrome have insulin resistance, in which 7 of them (41.18%) show low adiponectin level. While in 16 subjects without insulin resistance, only one subject (6.25%) has low adiponectin level. From 8 subjects with low adiponectin level, 7 of them (87.5%) have insulin resistance. In other words, low adiponectin level is associated with increased risk of insulin resistance (Odds Ratio 10.5, P = 0.040 (CI 95% : 1.12-98.91).

Conclusion: Low adiponectin concentration increases the risk of developing insulin resistance much more than normal adiponectin level.