Background: Adiponectin is a circulating peptide present in adipose tissue. It mediates its insulin-sensitizing and anti-atherogenic effects on target tissues via 2 receptors—adiponectin receptors 1 and 2 (ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2). Recent studies have reported that ADIPOR1 deficiency in mice results in increased body weight and obesity. In the present study, we examined the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 5´ flanking region of the ADIPOR1 gene and body mass index (BMI) in the Japanese population.
Methods: Association of an SNP (rs4989513) with the BMI was examined in 774 postmenopausal Japanese women.
Results: Rs4989513 SNP was significantly associated with the BMI (P = 0.0412).
Conclusion: Genetic variation at the ADIPOR1 gene locus is associated with BMI, suggesting that the ADIPOR1 gene is involved in the development of obesity.

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Objective: To-date, in middle-aged men the collection of data regarding the measurement of a wide range of health indicators, and the mutual relationships among these indicators, has been insufficient. Here, we evaluated from the viewpoint of anti-aging medicine, the effects on various anti-aging indicators in middle-aged men of a long-term intervention to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.
Methods: Subjects were 18 male employees (mean age, 54.4 ± 7.4 years; mean body weight 77.5 ± 12.5 kg; mean BMI, 26.1 ± 3.6 kg/m²) of a machine manufacturer located in Kyoto City on whom a company-wide anti-aging medical checkup was performed. On the basis of the medical checkup results, exercise and nutritional instructions were given to the study subjects. In addition, subjects were lent pedometers and encouraged to walk, and the data recording the number of steps taken was collected once every four weeks. Anti-aging related indicators were measured before the study as well as 12 and 24 weeks thereafter. Muscle mass was measured with a body composition measuring device by bioelectrical impedance analysis (Physion MD), higher-brain functions were determined by the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), the degree of arteriosclerosis was evaluated by acceleration plethysmography (SDP-100), and bone mineral density was measured by ultrasonography (A-1000).(View PDF for the rest of the abstract.)

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