Adiponectin levels, food choices, and genetics

Adiponectin, discovered in the 1990s, is a hormone secreted by adipose (fat) tissue. As an anti-inflammatory protein, it protects against the effects of low-grade inflammation associated with obesity.

Although production occurs in adipose tissue, those with more fat tissue usually have lower adiponectin levels. Lower adiponectin levels (and thus high inflammation) have links to chronic issues associated with obesity.[ref]

Additionally, low levels of adiponectin have links to insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.[ref]


ADIPOQ Genotype Report

Members: Log in to see your data below.
Not a member? Join here. Membership lets you see your data right in each article and also gives you access to the member’s only information in the Lifehacks sections.

Some polymorphisms increase adiponectin levels, leading to a lower risk of insulin resistance, and some polymorphisms decrease adiponectin levels which leads to a higher risk of insulin resistance and diabetes. Diet and ethnicity also seem to play a role in how these polymorphisms affect a person.

Check your genetic data for rs17300539 (23andMe v4, v5):

  • A/A: lower weight, BMI; and higher adiponectin levels; benefits from a monounsaturated fat diet and MUFA > 13% cuts risk of obesity in half[ref][ref]
  • A/G: somewhat higher adiponectin levels
  • G/G: most common genotype

Members: Your genotype for rs17300539 is .

Check your genetic data for rs1501299 (23andMe v4, v5):

  • T/T: higher adiponectin levels in some populations[ref] and lower adiponectin levels in other populations[ref][ref], may be related to the amount of fiber in the diet (see below), increased adiponectin signaling, protective against heart disease[ref]
  • C/T: higher adiponectin in some populations (with low fiber diet)
  • G/G: lower adiponectin levels in most populations, higher adiponectin levels compared to T carriers when eating a low fiber diet[ref], increased risk of endometrial cancer[ref] breast cancer, which is associated with low adiponectin signaling[ref]

Members: Your genotype for rs1501299 is .

Check your genetic data for rs266729 (23andMe v4, v5):

  • C/C:  lower adiponectin levels[ref][ref][ref] (most common genotype)
  • C/G: typical levels
  • G/G: Caucasian men with G/G (23andMe orientation, more common alleles), switching from a saturated fat-rich diet to either a carbohydrate-rich diet or a monounsaturated fat-rich diet caused plasma glucose concentrations to decrease.[ref]

Members: Your genotype for rs266729 is .

Check your genetic data for rs2241766 (23andMe v4, v5):

  • G/G: higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Asian populations[ref]
  • G/T: higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Asian populations
  • T/T: typical

Members: Your genotype for rs2241766 is .


Lifehacks

What works and doesn’t work:

The rest of this article is for Genetic Lifehacks members only. Consider joining today to see the rest of this article.

Member Content:

An active subscription is required to access this content.

Join Here for full access to this article, genotype reports, and much more!


Already a member? Log in below.


Related Articles and Topics:

How your genes shape your gut microbiome and weight
Differences in our microbiome might shape how we gain weight. Here’s a look at a few of the genes that play a role in determining which microbes inhabit the gut microbiome.

Circadian Rhythm: Weight Loss and Meal Timing
There are five key elements to weight loss from a circadian point of view: Timing of Meals; Light Exposure; Sleep; What to Eat and When; and Genetic Variants. All of these can come together in our modern world to give you the propensity to gain weight – and all can be hacked to help you lose weight.

High blood pressure due to AGTR1 gene variants
Blood pressure may not be something that you think much about – unless your doctor is harping about it being high or low. The CDC statistics, though, make a pretty compelling argument that a lot of us should be thinking about blood pressure. It is estimated that ~ 1/3 of US adults have high blood pressure, which contributes to more than 410,000 deaths each in the US in a year.

Genetic reasons why Low FODMAPs isn’t working for you (SI Gene)
The low FODMAPs diet is often recommended as a starting point for anyone with IBS symptoms but genetics can limit its effectiveness.


About the Author:
Debbie Moon is the founder of Genetic Lifehacks. Fascinated by the connections between genes, diet, and health, her goal is to help you understand how to apply genetics to your diet and lifestyle decisions. Debbie has a BS in engineering and also an MSc in biological sciences from Clemson University. Debbie combines an engineering mindset with a biological systems approach to help you understand how genetic differences impact your optimal health.