Adiponectin proposed biomarker for detection of Metabolic Syndrome
The hormone adiponectin is put forward as a useful diagnostic indicator of Metabolic Syndrome following a meta-analysis of existing scientific data from more than 7 000 individuals. The study, led by Adil Mardinoglu (KTH/SciLifeLab), shows that lower levels of circulating adiponectin in blood are highly associated with increased occurrence of Metabolic Syndrome – defined as a panel of disorders including excess body fat, high blood sugar, and elevated blood pressure.
Metabolic Syndrome is proven to strongly increase the risk of e.g. type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. The need for accurate diagnostic markers and novel targets for treatments are growing, as the disease now affects more than 25% of the world’s population. Previous reports have revealed that adiponectin plays a role in maintaining energy balance through regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, thereby alleviating insulin resistance.
From their analysis conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) criteria, the authors of the present study conclude that circulating adiponectin can serve as a diagnostic biomarker to identify patients with metabolic syndrome, especially in high-risk populations. Adiponectin may also be an available target for metabolic syndrome therapy, but the effects might be differentiated by patient feature.
