The good fat hormone: adiponectin and cardiovascular disease.

New treatments for heart disease continue to be of paramount importance. The newest pandemic facing us is the rise of obesity and diabetes. One new area of research in the field of metabolism is the hormone adiponectin, which is secreted by fat cells. For the most part, this compound seems more likely to be a part of basic science—oriented research; however, it deserves a much closer look. Many compounds such as high-density lipoprotein and others at first were simply markers of disease but later found to be much more important. During this short review, research from basic science to clinical cardiovascular events is discussed in relation to adiponectin.