Relationships of adiponectin to regional adiposity, insulin sensitivity, serum lipids, and inflammatory markers in sedentary and endurance-trained Japanese young women

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to compare the differences in circulating adiponectin levels and their relationships to regional adiposity, insulin resistance, serum lipid, and inflammatory factors in young, healthy Japanese women with different physical activity statuses. METHODS: Adipokines (adiponectin and leptin), full serum lipid, and inflammatory factors [white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)] were measured in 101 sedentary and 100 endurance-trained healthy Japanese women (aged 18–23 years). Insulin sensitivity was obtained through a quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI). Regional adiposity [trunk fat mass (TFM), lower-body fat mass (LFM), and arm fat mass (AFM)] was evaluated using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the sedentary and trained women in terms of adiponectin levels. The LFM-to-TFM ratio and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were the strong positive determinants for adiponectin in both groups. Triglyceride in the sedentary women was closely and negatively associated with adiponectin, as well as PAI-1 in the trained women. The QUICKI level was higher in the trained than sedentary women. However, no significant correlation between adiponectin and insulin sensitivity was detected in both groups. Furthermore, LFM was associated with a favorable lipid profile against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the whole study cohort, but this association became insignificant when adiponectin was taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that adiponectin is primarily associated with regional adiposity and HDL-C regardless of insulin sensitivity and physical activity status in young, healthy women. The associations among adiponectin, lipid, and inflammatory factors are likely different in women with different physical activity statuses. The correlation of LFM and a favorable lipid profile against CVD and adiponectin is likely involved in this association.