The relationship between γ-glutamyltransferase and adiponectin in nonalcoholic women

The relationship between adiponectin and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) has yet to be clearly demonstrated especially in women. Among the parameters of the liver function test (LFT), it has become increasingly evident that GGT is associated with metabolic disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the relationship between adiponectin and GGT in nonalcoholic women without liver disease. The subjects in this study were recruited from participants in routine health examinations during February of 2004. Among the total of 115 subjects considered for recruitment, we ultimately included 86 patients without liver disease in the study after performing LFT and abdominal sonography. After a 12-hour overnight fast, levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, and adiponectin were measured in all subjects. We found a significant negative correlation between adiponectin and GGT (r = -0.35, P < .001) and a significant positive correlation between GGT and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) (r = 0.29, P < .01) after controlling for the confounding influences of age and fat mass. Although GGT is clearly related to adiponectin and HOMA, we determined aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were not significantly associated with adiponectin and HOMA. The present study suggests that only GGT among the LFTs is related to adiponectin in nonalcoholic women without liver disease.