Background Ethnic differences exist in the function and distribution of adipose tissue, which influences whole body metabolism, including pulmonary function. The object of this study was to examine the relationships between serum metabolic parameters and pulmonary function in a morbidly obese Asia-Pacific population. Methods One-hundred thirty-seven morbidly obese Chinese patients, aged≥18 years with a body mass index (BMI)>32 kg/m 2 who were being evaluated for bariatric surgery between July 2007 and December 2008, were studied. Cross-sectional associations between serum metabolic parameters, including lipids, glucose, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels with forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1 ) assessed by spirometry, were analyzed. Multiple regression analyses also were conducted, with age, gender, smoking history, and various anthropometric measurements of obesity as confounders. Results Serum adiponectin and HDL cholesterol had a positive correlation with FVC and FEV 1 . In addition, insulin resistance, determined by the homeostatic model assessment method (HOMA), was negatively correlated with FVC. In the multiple linear regression analysis, only serum adiponectin was significantly correlated with FVC and FEV 1 , independent of obesity level. Conclusions Serum adiponectin level was positively and independently associated with pulmonary function in morbidly obese Chinese adults.
