The negative association of lower body fat mass with cardiometabolic disease risk factors is partially mediated by adiponectin.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study
PubMed 36169024 · doi:10.1530/EC-22-0156
What was done
Regional body fat depots (arm, leg, gluteofemoral, abdominal subcutaneous, and visceral fat) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 648 African females. Fasting serum adiponectin, lipid, insulin, plasma glucose levels, and blood pressure were measured. Multivariable linear regression and structural equation modelling were performed to assess relationships and test whether adiponectin mediated associations between gluteofemoral fat and cardiometabolic risk factors.
What was found
In multivariable regression adjusted for age, height, arm fat, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat, gluteofemoral fat correlated positively with adiponectin (β = 0.45, P < 0.0001). Gluteofemoral fat was negatively associated with fasting glucose (β = -0.28, P < 0.0001), triglyceride levels (β = -0.29, P < 0.0001), and insulin resistance by HOMA (β = -0.26, P < 0.0001). Structural equation modelling indicated adiponectin mediated 20.7% (P < 0.01) of the association with insulin resistance and 16.1% (P < 0.01) of the association with triglycerides, but only 6.67% (P = 0.31) of the association with fasting glucose.
Why it matters
This study provides evidence that the favorable metabolic profile associated with lower-body gluteofemoral fat is partially mediated by circulating adiponectin.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality or temporal mediation. The study was conducted exclusively in African females, limiting generalizability to males and other ethnic populations. Most of the observed relationship between gluteofemoral fat and cardiometabolic risk factors remains unexplained by adiponectin.
Cited by
- supports Fat accumulated on the abdomen poses greater health risks than fat on the legs or arms.