The relationship between visfatin levels and anthropometric and metabolic parameters: association with cholesterol levels in women

Adipose tissue has recently been identified as an endocrine organ. Visfatin is a novel adipocytokine predominantly secreted from visceral adipocytes. Visceral obesity is an important component of metabolic syndrome; however, the relationship between visfatin levels and metabolic syndrome is not clear. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between visfatin levels and anthropometry and parameters of metabolic syndrome. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio, and blood pressure. Metabolic parameters including fasting serum visfatin, fasting serum insulin and fasting plasma glucose, lipid profiles, and uric acid levels were measured. Data of 500 subjects (244 men and 256 women) were used for the analysis. There was no significant difference in serum visfatin levels between male and female subjects. Visfatin correlated negatively with body mass index (beta = -.011, P =.025) in male subjects; however, visfatin did not correlate with any other anthropometric or any metabolic parameters in male subjects. There was no correlation between visfatin levels and any anthropometric parameters in female subjects; however, it did correlate positively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (beta = .126, P = .006) and correlate negatively with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (beta = -.039, P = .010) in female subjects. In conclusion, visfatin is not related to most anthropometric parameters and most parameters of metabolic syndrome. It may play a role in cholesterol homeostasis in women. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.