Associations of three thermogenic adipokines with metabolic syndrome in obese and non-obese populations from the China plateau: the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort

An abnormally elevated plasma A-FABP level, but not leptin or visfatin is a potential risk factor for MetS in high-altitude populations.

A-FABP was an independent predictor of OB (OR, 1.207; 95% CI, 1.170 to 1.245; p<0.05), ABSI (OR, 1.035; 95%CI, 1.019 to 1.052; p<0.05) and MetS (OR, 1.035; 95% CI, 1.013 to 1.057; p<0.05). Leptin was an independent predictor of MetS in the NO group. Visfatin was an independent predictor of increased ABSI, but not for OB or MetS.