Microalbuminuria and adiponectin in obese nondiabetic nonhypertensive people

Abstract

Introduction The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically over the last decade. The first sign of renal injury is microalbuminuria or frank proteinuria. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was positively increased with the increasing waist-to-hip ratio in nonhypertensive individuals. Adiponectin plays a role in the suppression of metabolic derangements that may result in diabetes, obesity, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome. Aim The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between obesity, adiponectin level, and microalbuminuria in obese nondiabetic nonhypertensive individuals. Patients and methods This study included 70 individuals who were divided into two groups according to their BMI: the obese group (group I), which included 50 people with BMI at least 30 kg/m2, and the control group (group II), which included 20 lean persons with BMI from 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2. The study excluded patients with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. The following laboratory investigations were carried out on all subjects: serum glucose level, kidney function tests, and serum adiponectin level. Spot urine samples were collected for complete urinanalysis and tested for microalbuminuria and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR). Results ACR showed significant increase in the obese group than in the nonobese group, but serum adiponectin showed significantly lower level in the obese group than in the nonobese group. Within the obese group a significant positive correlation was found between ACR and BMI and waist-to-hip ratio, whereas a significant negative correlation was found between ACR and serum adiponectin. Also, within the obese group a significant negative correlation was found between serum adiponectin level and ACR and BMI. Discussion and conclusion Through this study we have confirmed the association of microalbuminuria, obesity, and serum adiponectin. Our study supports the hypothesis that obesity is associated with microalbuminuria in obese people free from diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease.