Although mounting evidences have revealed an association between the gene coding for adiponectin and serum adiponectin levels, much controversy still surrounds the association of the adiponectin gene with metabolic traits such as insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). On the other hand, very few studies have looked into the relations between adiponectin genetic variants and risks of metabolic syndromes (Mets). The present study assessed the influence of two common adiponectin single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs266729 (C-11377G) and rs1501299 (G276T) in the risk of Mets. A community-based population of 137/110 case/control was genotyped by PCR-RFLP, and the levels of serum adiponectin, fasting serum glucose, fasting serum insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), uric acid and C-reactive protein of each subject were measured. The distribution of genotypic and allelic frequencies of C-11377G or G276T was not statistically different between the Mets and control groups. However, among the patients with Mets, those carrying GG at C-11377G had a lower level of serum adiponectin (P < 0.001), higher levels of fasting serum glucose (P = 0.0142), fasting serum insulin (P < 0.001) and HOMA-IR (P < 0.001) compared with those carrying the CC or CG genotype. Our data suggest that subjects who carry the homologous GG genotype at C-11377G of the adiponectin gene may be of higher risk of Mets and should be monitored more closely with other serum biochemical indexes.