3　アディポネクチンと動脈硬化，臓器障害

Summary
　Incidence of atherosclerotic diseases such as ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease has been on the rise in Japan because of visceral fat accumulation resulted from the westernized dietary habit, insufficient exercise. Visceral fat accumulation causes excessive oxidative stress in accumulated fat. Oxidative stress induces adipocyte dysfunction, and the dysfunction results in adipocytokine dysregulation, such as increased inflammatory cytokines and decreasing plasma adiponectin concentration. Increased inflammatory cytokines and impaired plasma adiponectin brings on insulin resistance, elevated systolic blood pressure, and disorder of lipoprotein profile. Then, accumulation of these risk factors cause atherosclerosis. Oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines also result in derangement in many organs, such as myocardial fibrosis and glomerular injury. Therefore, augmenting adiponectin will achieve anti-aging effect. Reducing visceral fat could be useful in increasing adiponectin concentrations.