Levels of adiponectin, C-reactive protein and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist are associated with insulin sensitivity: a population-based study

Background We evaluated the relationship of insulin sensitivity (assessed with the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, QUICKI) to adiponectin and pro‐inflammatory markers, levels of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) and interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1 Ra). Methods Cross‐sectional study. Study population (N = 923, i.e 411 men and 512 women) included five different population‐based age groups (born in 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957 and 1962), [mean age 46 years and mean body mass index (BMI) 26 kg/m2]. Study protocol included an interview and measurements of anthropometric parameters and glucose, insulin, adiponectin, hs‐CRP and IL‐1 Ra. Results Correlation (r) between QUICKI and adiponectin level was 0.334 [95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.275–0.392] and partial correlation adjusted for gender, BMI, smoking status, physical activity and age was 0.247 (95% CI, 0.185–0.308). There was negative correlation between QUICKI and IL‐1 Ra (r = − 0.385; 95% CI, − 0.440 to − 0.328) which remained statistically significant after the adjustment for confounding factors (r = − 0.178; 95% CI, − 0.240 to − 0.113). Similarly, QUICKI was negatively correlated with hs‐CRP (r = − 0.241; 95% CI, − 0.302 to − 0.178), but after the adjustment it lost its statistical significance. There was a statistically significant gender difference (p = 0.018) in correlation between QUICKI and IL‐1 Ra levels (men: r = − 0.348; 95% CI, − 0.436 to − 0.261; women r = − 0.500; 95% CI, − 0.537 to − 0.398). Conclusions Our results show that adiponectin level and markers of low‐grade inflammation are related to insulin sensitivity. Adiponectin and IL‐1 Ra levels might be better markers of the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes than hs‐CRP. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.