AIMS: Studies suggest that adiponectin (APM1) and its receptors 1 and 2 (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) play an important role in the development of insulin resistance (IR). Our objective was to examine associations between APM1 (+45T>G, +276G>T and -3971A>G), AdipoR1 (-100G>T and -3882T>C) and AdipoR2 (-35361A>G and -1352G>A) genes single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and adiponectin plasma levels, indicators of glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity (IS) and insulin secretion.

METHODS: Six hundred and twenty-two non-diabetic subjects from the Quebec Family Study (QFS) underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), with measurement of fasting adiponectin, glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels. Indices of glucose tolerance, IS and insulin secretion were derived from fasting and OGTT measurements.

RESULTS: Significant evidence of association was found between indices of IS and APM1 and AdipoR1 SNPs. The APM1 -3971G/G homozygotes exhibited a reduced area under the curve of insulin during the OGTT (P = 0.007) and higher Cederholm index (P = 0.01) compared to the A/A homozygotes. The APM1+45T>G variant was also associated with fasting (P = 0.002) and 2-h (P = 0.007) glucose values as well as with higher Cederholm index (P = 0.04) and disposition index (P = 0.02). Finally, the AdipoR1-3882T>C SNP was associated with fasting glucose (P = 0.03), the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (P = 0.04) and an index of insulin secretion (P30/G30, P = 0.02). No evidence of association was found with plasma adiponectin levels.

CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence for an influence of common SNPs in the APM1 and AdipoR1 genes on different phenotypes of glucose and insulin metabolism associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes.