Objective: To study the relationship between adipokines and metabolic syndrome (MS), and the predictive value of adipokines on diagnosis of MS.
Methods: According to the IDF consensus worldwide definition on MS in 2005, we divided the subjects into 4 groups: 115 in MS0 (with none of MS component); 118 in MS1 (with one MS component); 77 in MS2 (with two MS components) and 104 in MS3 (with none of MS component). Serum levels of leptin, visfatin adiponectin and resistin were measured in these groups, using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4) was assessed by radioimmunoassay (RIA).
Result: (1) Serum adiponectin level decreased while the serum level of leptin and RBP-4 increased in women with the number of MS components gathered. However, the level of visfatin obviously decreased only in the MS3 phase. The level of resistin showed no changes with MS components gathered. (2) Detection rates of the MS components such as high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and obesity were significantly higher in the Q4 group with high level of leptin when compared to the Q1 group with lower level (odd ratio: Q4/Q1 is 1.3, 1.8, 1.6, 5.2, 3.0 respectively). (3) The higher level of serum RBP-4 was not only associated with greater risk for impaired glucose regulation (odd ratio: Q4/Q1=2.6), but also significantly with the risks for hyperglycemia (odd ratio: Q4/Q1=1.6) dyslipidemia (odd ratio: Q4/Q1=1.9), obesity (odd ratio: Q4/Q1=1.5) and MS (odd ratio: Q4/Q1=2.7). In the Q4 group with higher levels of RBP-4, the positive rates of MS reached 50%. (4) The detection rates of MS components such as dyslipidemia, obesity, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance were significantly higher in the Q1 group with the lowest level of adiponectin when compared to the Q4 group with the highest level.
Conclusion: The levels of adipokines, serum adiponectin, leptin and RBP-4 showed significant associations with MS. Our findings suggested that these adipokines might serve as the key factors that participating in MS and could be used as markers for early prediction of MS as well as the new targets for therapy.