Independent links between plasma xanthine oxidoreductase activity and levels of adipokines

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is a rate‐limiting enzyme that catalyzes uric acid formation in the purine metabolism, is involved in an increase in reactive oxygen species. Plasma XOR activity has been shown to be associated with obesity, smoking, liver dysfunction, hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The association between plasma XOR activity, measured by using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and levels of adipokines, including adiponectin, fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP4) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), was investigated in 282 participants (male/female: 126/156) of the Tanno‐Sobetsu Study who were not taking medication. RESULTS: Women had lower plasma XOR activity than did men. Smoking habit was associated with increased activity. Plasma XOR activity was positively correlated with concentrations of FABP4 (r = 0.192, P < 0.001) and FGF21 (r = 0.208, P < 0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance as an index of insulin resistance and uric acid, and was negatively correlated with adiponectin level (r = −0.243, P = 0.001). Multivariate regression analyses showed that levels of adiponectin, FABP4 and FGF21 were independent determinants of plasma XOR activity after adjusting age, sex, uric acid and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. With additional adjustment of smoking habit, the level of FABP4, but not that of adiponectin or FGF21, remained as an independent predictor of plasma XOR activity. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma XOR activity was independently associated with levels of adipokines in a general population of individuals not taking medication.