Adiponectin and Metabolic status in persons with Schizophrenia: A six month prospective study

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is a hormone produced by adipose tissue whose activity is strongly associated with glucose homeostasis, inflammation and energy expenditure. The concentrations are influenced by age and gender, and low concentrations predict the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Persons with schizophrenia (PWS) have increased risk of developing metabolic derangements and some studies have showed conflicting results regarding derangements of inflammatory markers in them. AIM: To study the relationship between adiponectin and metabolic derangements in PWS METHODS: A prospective and exploratory study was carried out in LGBRIMH, Assam in 25 drug naïve males diagnosed with schizophrenia. Subjects were assessed at baseline (T0) and at 6 months (T1) after starting treatment for metabolic parameters and adiponectin levels. RESULT: The study showed significant change in levels of adiponectin and metabolic parameters from T0 to T1. Change in adiponectin levels were positively correlated with change in SBP, TG and waist circumference, while negatively correlated with DBP, FBS, HDL but none reached the level of statistical significance. 20.2% of the change in adiponectin levels was being influenced by change in metabolic parameters. CONCLUSION: The role of adiponectin in pathogenesis of the metabolic decompensation in persons with schizophrenia needs further investigation as the current study could not establish a clear role in the causation. ABBREVIATIONS: SBP- Systolic Blood Pressure DBP- Diastolic Blood Pressure TG- Triglycerides FBS- Fasting Blood Sugar HDL- High Density Lipoprotein