Association Between Serum Vaspin Level and Metabolic Syndrome in Healthy Korean Subjects

Background: Visceral obesity is associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Vaspin [visceral adipose tissue (VAT)-derived serpin] may be a novel adipokine related to obesity and its metabolic consequences. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among serum vaspin levels and VAT and the components of metabolic syndrome. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of healthy men (n=97) and women (n=156) for clinical, laboratory, and anthropometric factors was undertaken. Serum vaspin levels were measured. Abdominal VAT and subcutaneous adipose tissue were measured by computed tomography. Results: Of 253 subjects, 47 (18%) had metabolic syndrome: 33 men (34%) and 14 women (9%). Serum vaspin concentration was significantly lower in men than in women and significantly lower in men with metabolic syndrome than in men without metabolic syndrome. Serum vaspin level tended to decrease with increasing number of metabolic syndrome components, and was negatively correlated with waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum triglyceride level, and abdominal VAT, but positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. However, after adjustment for sex, this correlation disappeared. Conclusions: Low serum vaspin levels are associated with male gender and metabolic syndrome, particularly in men, and with the majority of metabolic syndrome components.