Patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) experience body weight loss and reductions in the most common cardiovascular risk factors. At present, the pathogenetic mechanisms involved have not been elucidated. Increased serum concentrations of adiponectin, which possesses antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, are associated with a reduction in cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study was to determine adiponectin serum concentrations in PD patients. Thirty PD patients underwent a full nutritional status assessment, including the determination of adiponectin serum concentrations. Mean ± SD adiponectin concentrations were 9.59 ± 5.9？μg/mL (interquartile range: 5.92–12.9？μg/mL). In PD patients, adiponectin serum levels were similar to those in normal-weight, healthy, young subjects and significantly higher than that in an aged-matched group of morbidly obese subjects. Further studies are warranted to establish the role of adiponectin in the management of PD patients. 1. Introduction Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience weight loss in the advanced stages of the disease, resulting in a reduction in body mass index (BMI) [1–3]. Weight loss appears to involve mainly adipose tissue and to spare (or even increase) fat-free mass [4, 5] although not all findings reported in the literature are consistent with this conclusion [6]. Reductions in the most common cardiovascular risk factors (elevated concentrations of fasting glucose, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and arterial hypertension) have been recorded in PD patients [7, 8] as well as an improvement in HDL cholesterol [9]. The pathogenetic mechanisms involved have not been elucidated. According to some authors, the phenomenon may be induced by the modulating activity of levodopa therapy on the sympathetic system [10]. It has been shown that there is a relationship between adipose tissue and cardiovascular risk mediated by adipokines, such as adiponectin. Adiponectin is a protein synthesized by white fat tissue, whose concentrations in human serum range from 3 to 30？μg/mL [11–14]. High serum adiponectin concentrations, which are influenced by a reduction in fat mass [11], are associated with a reduction in the risk of myocardial infarction, even after adjustment for HDL, LDL, and BMI levels [15], whereas low-adiponectin concentrations are associated with the risk of developing type II diabetes [16] and hypertension [17]. It is well known that adiponectin exerts important vascular and cardiac effects, especially in preserving endothelial function, protecting it from ischemic
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