Relation of Serum Adiponectin Levels and Obesity with Breast Cancer: A Japanese Case-Control Study

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> It is known that obesity is one of the risk factors for breast cancer although the association maydiffer between ethnic groups and with the menopausal status. Recently obesity-related risk factors includingserum adiponectin and insulin levels have been analyzed together with BMI in association with breast cancerrisk. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: We measured serum high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and insulin levelsin a hospital based case-control study, including 66 sets of Japanese female breast cancer cases and age andmenopausal status matched controls. Serum levels of HMW adiponectin, insulin levels and body mass index(BMI) were examined in association with breast cancer risk with adjustment for the various known risk factorsby menopausal status. <br/><b>Results</b>: Women in the highest HMW adiponectin levels showed significant reduced riskof breast cancer in both pre and postmenopausal women (odds ratio (OR), 0.01; 95% confidence interval (CI),0.00-0.26 and 0.13; 0.03-0.57, respectively). Lower BMI showed decreased breast cancer risk in both pre andpostmenopausal women (OR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.00-0.69, OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.07-1.11, respectively). <br/><b>Conclusions</b>:These results indicated that higher serum HMW adiponectin levels and lower BMI are associated with a decreasedbreast cancer risk in both pre and postmenopausal women in Japan, adding evidence for the obesity link.