SERUM ADIPONECTIN LEVELS IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY SUBJECTS
Adiponectin, a 30-kDA complement C1q-related protein, is a 244-amino acid polypeptide secreted predominantly by adipocytes in the blood. Serum adiponectin levels are inversely related to obesity, diabetes mellitus and other insulin resistant states. In addition, low levels of adiponectin may serve as risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and a wide array of cancers. This clearly indicates the potential role of adiponectin as a useful diagnostic and follow-up biomarker. But lack of standardization of adiponectin assays and reference range of adiponectin for specific populations limit the recommended use of adiponectin as routine clinical biomarker. The present study made an attempt to establish the reference interval of serum adiponectin amongst healthy subjects of Haryana. The study was undertaken in the Department of Biochemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Mullana, Ambala (Haryana). Overnight fasting samples of 200 apparently healthy subjects in the age range of 30-70 years were tested for serum adiponectin. The range of serum adiponectin levels varied from 5.13- 40.96 µg/ml. The determination of reference range of serum adiponectin is quite essential for the early identification and thereafter, treatment of various lifestyle-related diseases.