Comparison of Serum Levels of Adiponectin and Cortisol between Overweight/Obese and Normal Weight Men

Obesity, results in a number of serious complications, such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. The levels of blood of adiponectin and cortisol have been associated with obesity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of adiponectin and cortisol levels with obesity and biochemical parameters.

This case-control study was conducted only on men, 80 participants with body mass index (BMI)≥25 considered as case group, and 100 participants with BMI<25 as control group in the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Plasma levels of adiponectin and cortisol were measured through ELISA kit and other variables were determined by standard methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. P-values <0.05 were considered as significant.

Our findings showed no significant difference in cortisol level between individuals with BMI≥25 and individuals with BMI<25. Obese men had significantly higher levels of triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and lipid profiles whereas, adiponectin and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were lower compared to the control group (p-value<0.05). In this study, an inverse correlation was observed between adiponectin and fasting blood glucose (FBS), and also BMI. It was found a positive correlation between cortisol and cholesterol and also FBS.

The results show that there is no relationship between cortisol and obesity, but a negative correlation between adiponectin levels and obesity.