Which adipokine is inversely associated with metabolic syndrome risk?

• A. Adiponectin
• B. Leptin
• C. Resistin
• D. Ghrelin

Answer: (A)

Adiponectin is the adipokine associated with lower metabolic syndrome risk. It’s produced by fat tissue but acts to protect metabolism by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation. It activates AMPK signaling in liver and muscle, boosting fatty acid oxidation and decreasing glucose production, which improves glucose tolerance and lipid profiles. In lean individuals, adiponectin levels are relatively high, helping keep insulin resistance and related risk factors low; in obesity, adiponectin falls, removing this protective effect and increasing metabolic syndrome risk. Leptin tends to rise with fat mass and can reflect leptin resistance, not a protective inverse relationship. Resistin is linked to promoting insulin resistance, and ghrelin is a gut hormone not an adipokine with the same protective metabolic profile. Hence the inverse association points to adiponectin.