Is there any association between subcutaneous adipose tissue area and plasma total and high molecular weight adiponectin levels?

This study was conducted for the purpose of clarifying the correlations between the subcutaneous adipose tissue area and plasma total and high–molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin levels. The subjects of this study comprised 359 men and 142 women who underwent general health examinations from October 2005 to December 2006. The abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue areas were measured using low-dose x-ray computed tomography. Total and HMW adiponectin levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system based on a monoclonal antibody to humans. There were negative correlations between the plasma total and HMW adiponectin levels and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue areas using simple correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis clearly indicated that the subcutaneous adipose tissue area was independently correlated with the HMW adiponectin levels in men and closely related in women. Many studies reported that only the visceral adipose tissue area showed a significant correlation with metabolic syndrome. However, these results clearly indicate that it is also important to consider the subcutaneous adipose tissue area in metabolic syndrome.