Background: Despite the effective role of adiponectin levels in the predisposition to type 2 diabetes mellitus, the potential impact of adiponectin in manifest type 2 diabetes is less studied.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine gender-specific differences regarding the relationship between adiponectin levels and metabolic parameters as well as sex hormones in elderly type 2 diabetics.
Methods: Sixty-two elderly type 2 diabetic men (mean age 60 [9] years) and 38 postmenopausal type 2 diabetic women (mean age 64 [9] years) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Glycemic control, lipids, sex hormones, adiponectin, and anthropometric parameters were measured in all participants.
Results: Serum adiponectin was higher in women than in men (P < 0.006). After controlling for age and body mass index, adiponectin concentrations showed a positive correlation with sex hormone-binding globulin and high-density lipoprotein levels (P < 0.001) and a negative correlation with glycated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance, glucose, C-peptide, and triglyceride levels (P < 0.05) in all patients. In men, adiponectin significantly correlated with serum levels of testosterone (r = 0.420; P < 0.002). In women, negative correlations were observed between adiponectin levels and the fatty liver index (r = -0.492; P < 0.006) and γ-glutamyltransferase (r = -0.432; P < 0.01).
Conclusions: High serum adiponectin is a feature of better metabolic control and lipid profile, whereas low adiponectin levels are associated with fatty liver disease in women and low testosterone levels in men with type 2 diabetes.
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