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Adiponectin may have an antiatherogenic effect by reducing endothelial activation. We hypothesized that plasma adiponectin levels were correlated with endothelial function.

Plasma adiponectin level was determined by an in-house RIA assay using a rabbit polyclonal antibody in 73 type 2 diabetic patients and 73 controls. Endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilation of the brachial artery was measured by high-resolution vascular ultrasound. Plasma adiponectin level was lower in diabetic patients than in controls (4.73 ± 1.96 vs. 7.69 ± 2.80 μg/ml, respectively; P < 0.001), and they also had impaired endothelium-dependent (5.6 ± 3.6 vs. 8.6 ± 4.5%, respectively; P < 0.001) and -independent vasodilation (13.3 ± 4.9 vs. 16.5 ± 5.6%, respectively; P < 0.001). Plasma adiponectin correlated with endothelium-dependent vasodilation in controls (P = 0.02) and diabetic patients (P = 0.04). On general linear …