OBJECTIVES: Low levels of
adiponectin, an
adipocytokine with
anti-diabetic and anti-atherogenic properties, are associated with increased risk of future
myocardial infarction in men. Previous studies have demonstrated that
cigarette smoking is involved in the development of
insulin resistance, and current smokers have been shown to have reduced plasma
adiponectin levels. However, the influence of
smoking cessation on
adiponectin levels remains unknown. We sought to assess whether
smoking cessation is associated with increased plasma
adiponectin levels in men. METHODS: The study includes 72 men (47
non-smokers and 25 current smokers at baseline) with stable
angina pectoris who underwent
percutaneous coronary intervention and follow-up
coronary angiography 6 months later. During the 6-month follow-up period, all 47
non-smokers remained
non-smokers, while 15 men of the 25 baseline current smokers successfully
quit smoking. We evaluated plasma
adiponectin levels at
coronary intervention and 6 months later. RESULTS: Plasma
adiponectin levels at
coronary intervention were comparable to those after 6 months in
non-smokers (4.22 [3.15-6.43] vs. 4.58 [3.03-6.26]mug/mL, P=0.124) and in persistent smokers (4.77 [4.25-10.53] vs. 5.16 [4.11-8.10]mug/mL, P=0.721). Meanwhile, an increase in
adiponectin level was observed in patients who
quit smoking for 6 months (4.24 [3.30-5.70] vs. 5.50 [4.03-8.00]mug/mL, P=0.002).
Univariate analysis revealed that the percent increase in
adiponectin levels
correlated positively with
smoking cessation (P=0.003) and negatively with additional use of
beta-blockers (P=0.049). In addition, increases in
adiponectin levels were closely associated with increase in
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.148), decrease in
triglycerides (P=0.140), and additional use of
renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (P=0.069).
Multivariate analysis demonstrated that
smoking cessation was an independent determinant of the increase in
adiponectin (P=0.036). CONCLUSIONS:
Smoking cessation is associated with increased plasma
adiponectin levels in men with stable angina, suggesting that the significance of
smoking cessation may be partly explained by the increase in
adiponectin level.
