The relationship between adiponectin, ageing and renal function in a bi-ethnic sample

► Adiponectin levels revealed significant increase with ageing in African men and women only. ► Increase in adiponectin levels observed in Africans was not attributable to impaired renal function. ► Insulin seems to play a possible role with observed adiponectin levels, especially in African men. ► Adiponectin resistance should be investigated as a possibility of age-related increase in adiponectin levels.