ABSTRACT
Background: Adiponectin has been associated with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in Type 2 diabetes, though the mechanism of association is still uncertain. The adiponectin levels and lipid profile in relation to glycemic control were investigated in type 2 diabetics. Methods: Forty two diabetic subjects (35-64 years) and 33 age-matched non-diabetic subjects were recruited into this case control study. Socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric indices and blood pressure were obtained. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein, (HDL), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were estimated using colorimetric methods, atherogenic index (AI) was calculated, while serum adiponectin was determined by ELISA method. Results: Adiponectin levels of type 2 diabetics were not significantly different from the non-diabetics studied (p>0.05). Higher TG levels were observed in diabetics with poor glycemic control compared with those with good glycemic control (p<0.05). Hypertensive diabetics have higher TC and lower HDL-C levels compared with non hypertensive diabetics (p<0.05). Adiponectin correlated positively with HDL-C (r = 0.739, p = 0.01) and negatively with AI (r = -0.539, p = 0.001) only in the non diabetic group. No significant differences were observed in the adiponectin levels in relation with gender, duration of diabetes and glycemic state (p>0.05). Conclusion: Type 2 diabetics do not have lower adiponectin levels. Gender, duration of diabetes and glycemic control does not seem to exert any influence on adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetes. Adiponectin may be associated with reduced risk of atherosclerosis through its effects on HDL cholesterol metabolism.