Association of adulthood weight gain with circulating adipokine and insulin resistance in the Japanese population

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although adipokines and insulin resistance are known to be correlated with body fatness, it is unclear whether they are independently related to weight gain experience. We examined the associations of serum adipokines and marker of insulin resistance with past weight gain during adulthood by taking the degree of attained body mass index (BMI) level into consideration. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Subjects were 399 Japanese municipal employees, aged >= 30 years, who participated in a health survey. Serum adipokines were measured using a Luminex suspension bead-based multiplexed array. Weight change during adulthood was calculated as the difference between measured current weight and recalled weight at the age of 20 years. Multiple regression was performed to calculate mean adipokine levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) according to weight gain (<5 kg, 5-9.9 kg, or >= 10 kg) with adjustment for current BMI. RESULTS: Weight gain from the age of 20 years was significantly and positively associated with leptin levels even after adjustment for current BMI (P for trend <0.001), whereas it was significantly and inversely associated with adiponectin levels in a BMI-adjusted model among subjects aged >= 40 years (P for trend = 0.03). Weight gain was associated with HOMA-IR in a BMI-unadjusted model (P for trend <0.001), but this association was largely attenuated after adjustment for BMI. Resistin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and visfatin were not associated with past weight gain. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that a large weight gain during adulthood is associated with higher leptin and lower adiponectin levels independently of the degree of attained BMI level.