OBJECTIVETo observe serum adiponectin, free fatty acid (FFA) profile and other glucose and lipid metabolic parameters in essential hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome (HPMS) or without metabolic syndrome (HP).

METHODSThe serum adiponectin was measured with the radioimmunoassay, FFA profile measured with the gas chromatography and mass spectrometer in 72 HPMS, 56 HP and 43 normal control subjects.

RESULTSSerum adiponectin were significantly lower in HPMS group than those in the HP and control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Serum total free fatty acid (TFA), unsaturated fatty acid (UFA, linoleic acid, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosatrienoic acid), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n6PUFA were significantly higher in HPMS group than those in the HP and control groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Adiponectin was negatively correlated with body mass index, waist circumferences, waist hip ratio, triglycerides (r = -0.222, -0.235, -0.179, -0.194, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05, respectively) and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.336, P < 0.01); TFA and PUFA were positively correlated with body mass index, waist circumferences, fasting blood glucose, mean arterial pressure (r = 0.241 and 0.280, 0.198 and 0.188, 0.226 and 0.298, 0.274 and 0.334, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05, respectively) in all subjects.

CONCLUSIONOur data suggest that changes in serum adiponectin, FFA and n6PUFA might promote the development of metabolic syndrome in essential hypertensive patients.