Plasma Adiponectin and Endogenous Glucose Production in Humans
- Norbert Stefan, MD12,
- Michael Stumvoll, MD12,
- Barbora Vozarova, MD1,
- Christian Weyer, MD1,
- Tohru Funahashi, MD, PHD3,
- Yuji Matsuzawa, MD, PHD3,
- Clifton Bogardus, MD1 and
- P. Antonio Tataranni, MD1
- 1Clinical Diabetes and Nutrition Section, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, Arizona
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Pathobiochemistry, Tubingen, Germany
- 3Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Norbert Stefan, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Pathobiochemistry, Otfried-Muller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. E-mail: norbert.stefan{at}med.uni-turbingen.de
Abstract
OBJECTIVE—High plasma adiponectin is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, probably a consequence of its insulin-sensitizing properties. In vivo data in rodents suggest that the insulin-sensitization responsible for improvement of glycemia occurs in muscle and liver. Whereas associations of plasma adiponectin with muscle insulin sensitivity in humans have been examined, this has not been done for the liver.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We therefore analyzed the relationship between fasting plasma adiponectin and basal endogenous glucose production [EGP]-basal) and insulin-suppressed EGP (EGP-insulin, isotope dilution technique) in 143 Pima Indians (94 with normal glucose tolerance, 36 with impaired glucose tolerance, and 16 with type 2 diabetes).
RESULTS—Fasting plasma adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with EGP-basal and EGP-insulin before (P = 0.006 and P < 0.0001, respectively) as well as after adjustment for age, sex, percent body fat, and insulin-stimulated whole-body glucose uptake (P = 0.007 and P = 0.0005, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS—These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that adiponectin increases hepatic insulin sensitivity. Consistent with data in animals, adiponectin may have generalized insulin-sensitizing effects in humans.
Footnotes
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A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.
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- Accepted September 6, 2003.
- Received May 13, 2003.
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