Abstract
Serum high-molecular-weight adiponectin (HMWA) has a positive correlation with insulin secretion in the Japanese population. To validate this correlation, we investigated the correlation between serum HMWA and proinsulin, a marker of β-cell dysfunction, in this population. A total of 488 participants (53.9% women) aged 35-79 years not taking oral hypoglycemic agents and/or insulin were enrolled. HMWA was significantly and inversely correlated with proinsulin adjusted for age and sex (partial regression coefficient β = -0.37; 95% confidence interval -0.46 to -0.28). When the participants were divided into two groups by median values of body mass index (23.2 kg/m(2) ), serum insulin (4.3 µU/mL) or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (1.0), similar inverse correlations were observed adjusted for age and sex in both groups. Our results showed that the HMWA level was inversely correlated with the proinsulin level in a general Japanese population.