Association of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, adiponectin, and low-grade inflammation with the course of the metabolic syndrome

• We examined factors associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS).
• Insulin resistance and markers of inflammation are associated with MetS.
• Decreased adiponectin may be associated with insulin resistance.
• Identifying risk factors for MetS may contribute to effective prevention strategies.

ObjectiveWe examined the association between insulin resistance (IR), adiponectin, and inflammation markers and the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Furthermore, we aimed to establish the relationship between IR, serum adiponectin, and parameters of chronic inflammation.MethodsMetS was assessed in 1628 Kazakh participants (768 men; 860 women) in Xinjiang, Northwestern China.ResultsAdiponectin, homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) remained significantly associated with MetS after further adjustment for sex, age, smoking status, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Moreover, HOMA-IR, IL-6, and CRP increased concurrently with an increased number of MetS components, and an inverse trend between adiponectin and increased number of MetS components was found. The median of IL-6 and CRP increased with HOMA-IR from the lowest to the highest quartile. In contrast, the median of adiponectin remarkably decreased with HOMA-IR from the lowest to the highest quartile (P < 0.001). According to multiple linear regression analysis, adiponectin, CRP, and IL-6 also showed a significant association with HOMA-IR.ConclusionWe strengthen the notion that HOMA-IR, adiponectin, and inflammatory markers can predict the course of MetS. Furthermore, our results suggest that a chronic state of inflammation and decreased serum adiponectin might be associated with IR.