The demonstrated relationship of ARL15 with the metabolic traits and diseases may represent adiponectin-independent effects of ARL15 — a hypothesis that could be tested by adjusting the relationship between ARL15 and CHD or T2D for adiponectin levels (which was not possible in this study, as the disease cohorts had no measured adiponectin levels). The gene discussed is ARL15; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.