the relationship between adiponectin serum level and coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetic patients

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine that has a higher serum level in healthy people. in type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, hypertension, mi, and dyslipidemia, the serum level of adiponectin is lower than 4 µg/ml. adiponectin is proved to have a protective role against atherosclerotic changes where its low serum levels in type 2 diabetes can lead to the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. in this study, we aimed to survey the possible effects of adiponectin in the development of coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetics. thirty diabetic cases with coronary artery disease, 30 diabetic cases without known coronary artery disease, and a group of 30 healthy volunteers, all of them were between 18-65-year-old, were entered our study. we gathered demographic data by performing a physical examination followed by filling a checklist and a set of laboratory tests. all the groups were sex and age-matched (p=0.284 and p=0.163 respectively). cad group had the lowest hba1c (p<0.001). both ldl and hdl were also lower in the cad group (p<0.001). adiponectin was also lower in the cad group when compared to other groups (p<0.008) or when compared with only normal diabetics (p<0.002). we found a correlation between adiponectin and hdl (r=0.348, p=0.008), suggesting each unit of reduction in serum level of adiponectin could increase the chance of coronary artery disease by 38% in diabetics. in this study, we showed that the lower serum level of adiponectin is correlated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease in type 2 diabetics.