Objective: Adiponectin, is a novel adipose tissue specific protein that has structural homology collagen VIII, X and complement factor C1q. It is also shown that insulin resistance and obesity cause to diminish adiponectin extraction from human adipose tissue but the relationship is not clear. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between adiponectin and insulin resistance in obese women.

Materials and Methods: The study group included objects aged between 28-68 years with a BMI>28 kg/m2. Insulin sensitivity was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment ratio (HOMA) formula derived from fasting insulin and glucose levels. The study group was divided according to presence of insulin resistance into two subgroups;Group 1 with HOMA-IR <2.7 insulin sensitive and Group 2 with HOMA-IR >2.7 insulin resistant. Fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL -cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, uric acid and adiponectin levels were determined. Body fat composition was assessed by body mass index and waist / hip circumference ratio.

Results: We found that serum adiponectin levels were lower in insulin-resistant group than the insulin-sensitive group. The correlations between adiponectin levels and metabolic and nonmetabolic parameters were also evaluated. Serum adiponectin levels correlated positively with age and HDLcholesterol, but correlated negatively with triglyceride, insulin, body mass index, waist circumference and HOMA-IR.

Conclusion: Our results confirm that adiponectin levels are associated with insulin resistance.