Adipokines - Targeting a root cause of cardiometabolic risk

Abstract

Obesity often co-presents with other cardiometabolic risk factors such as dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and hypertension. Less well appreciated is that dysregulation of adipokine production by excess adipose tissue also promotes a state of low-level systemic chronic inflammation and a prothrombotic state, implicated in the development of both atherosclerosis and subsequently cardiovascular events. Lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapy can reduce cardiometabolic risk, a benefit that may be partly due to their effects on adipokine levels. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Physicians. All rights reserved.