Adiponectin is associated with insulin sensitivity in white European men but not black African men

AIMS We aimed to assess ethnic differences in inflammatory markers and their relationships with insulin sensitivity and regional adiposity between white European and black African men. METHODS A total of 53 white European and 53 black African men underwent assessment of inflammatory markers alongside Dixon-magnetic resonance imaging to quantify subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue and intrahepatic lipid. A hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp was used to measure whole-body and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity. To assess ethnic differences in relationships, the statistical significance of an interaction term between adipokines and ethnic group was tested in multivariable regression models. RESULTS The black African men exhibited significantly lower adiponectin and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and greater interleukin-10 (IL-10) compared to white European men (all p