Metabolic Syndrome, Vitamin D Deficiency and Hypoadiponectinemia among Nondiabetic Patients Early after Kidney Transplantation

Background and Aims: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common among kidney transplant patients. We studied the relationship between MetS, vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and hypoadiponectinemia early posttransplantation and their impact on clinical outcomes. Methods: Seventy-four previously nondiabetic kidney transplant patients were enrolled in a prospective cohort study between February and November 2008. Participants underwent a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test and had their plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), adiponectin, insulin, intact parathyroid hormone and lipids measured at 11 weeks posttransplantation. Clinical events including cardiovascular events, new-onset diabetes after transplantation, acute rejection, graft loss and death were recorded during the follow-up to December 2012. Results: Thirty-four study patients (45.9%) had MetS. Patients with MetS had lower plasma concentrations of 25[OH]D (20.5 ± 7.2 vs. 24.8 ± 11.1 ng/ml, p = 0.049) and adiponectin (8.2 ± 4.5 vs. 14.6 ± 8.0 μg/ml, p 2 0.195, p Conclusion: Kidney transplant patients with MetS early after transplantation had lower levels of 25[OH]D and adiponectin, and unfavorable clinical outcomes.